In an unexpected move, Pocketpair, the developer behind Palworld, has launched its 2019 title OverDungeon on the Nintendo eShop. This release comes as the company faces legal challenges, with Palworld accused of patent infringement by Nintendo and The Pokémon Company.
In September 2024, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company filed a lawsuit against Pocketpair, claiming that Palworld’s “Pal Spheres” mimic the functionality of Poké Balls, violating patents related to Pokémon’s creature-capturing system. The lawsuit stirred controversy in the gaming community. Pocketpair described the situation as “unfortunate” but committed to complying with the investigation. Despite the legal troubles, Palworld saw a surge in concurrent players on Steam following a significant update in December. Now, Pocketpair has taken another bold step by releasing a new game on Nintendo’s platform.
On January 9, Pocketpair surprised fans by launching OverDungeon for the Nintendo Switch. Originally released on Steam in 2019, OverDungeon is an action card game with elements of tower defense and roguelike mechanics. This marks Pocketpair’s first venture onto the Switch, with no prior announcements about the release. To celebrate, the game is available at a 50% discount until January 24. Given that Palworld is available on PS5 and Xbox, the decision to launch OverDungeon on the Nintendo eShop has raised eyebrows, with some speculating it could be a subtle response to the ongoing lawsuit.
Palworld remains Pocketpair’s most notable game, but it’s not the first time the developer has faced comparisons to Nintendo titles. In 2020, Pocketpair released Craftopia, an RPG reminiscent of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Despite the lawsuit, Palworld continues to be actively promoted, including a collaboration with Terraria. The crossover introduced a new Pal named Meowmeow, with more Terraria-related content planned for 2025.
As the legal battle with Nintendo and The Pokémon Company unfolds, patent experts suggest the lawsuit could drag on for years if no settlement is reached. Meanwhile, Pocketpair has teased additional plans for Palworld in 2025, including a Mac port and a potential mobile version.