Pocketpair said Palworld changed Pal Sphere summoning and gliding to avoid further disruption from its ongoing patent lawsuit with Nintendo and The Pokémon Company. The November 2024 update replaced thrown-sphere summons with Pals appearing beside the player; a later change shifted gliding to a glider item, while keeping passive gliding buffs from team Pals.
What changed in Palworld?
Pocketpair’s May 8, 2025 statement confirmed that two gameplay changes were compromises prompted by the litigation. The company called them disappointing and said the alternative would have caused a greater deterioration in the gameplay experience. That is Pocketpair’s explanation, not a court finding about the game or the case.
| Mechanic | Before | After | What remains |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summoning a Pal | Players could throw a Pal Sphere to summon a Pal. | Since update v0.3.11, released November 30, 2024, the Pal appears statically next to the player instead of being summoned by throwing the sphere. | Players can still summon Pals; the animation and placement changed. |
| Gliding | Players could glide using a Pal. | In the later v0.5.5 patch, players instead use a glider item. | Pals on the player’s team still provide passive gliding buffs. |
Pocketpair explicitly linked the v0.3.11 summon change to the ongoing case in its May 8 statement: “As many have speculated, these changes were indeed a result of the ongoing litigation.” The company also said the later gliding change was another compromise. It did not say a court ordered either patch.
Why did Pocketpair make the changes?
Pocketpair said it made compromises to prevent further disruption to Palworld’s development and distribution. The company described the changes as disappointing, but said it believed the alternative would have harmed gameplay more. Its statement put the reasoning this way: “Unfortunately, as the alternative would have led to an even greater deterioration of the gameplay experience for players, it was determined that this change was necessary.”
#1 Best Overall
- Measures approximately 3" long and 2" in diameter
- Keyring and clip included
- Original design by Nikko Industries
- 3D Printed in PLA right here in the USA
The company’s position is that it continues to dispute the claims and asserts that the patents in question are invalid. That position, like the plaintiffs’ allegations, is a party’s argument rather than a decision by the court.
What is the lawsuit about?
Nintendo announced on September 19, 2024 that it and The Pokémon Company had filed a patent-infringement lawsuit against Pocketpair in Tokyo District Court. The plaintiffs alleged that Palworld infringed multiple patent rights and sought an injunction and compensation for damages. The filing is about patents; the cited statements do not characterize it as a copyright lawsuit over creature designs.
Rank #2
- Opens with a twist-lock mechanism to allow the storage of a light, or even a small figure
- Measures approximately 5.5" long and 4" in diameter
- Metallic Gold and Translucent White finish
- Includes a loose LED RGB light with remote and 13 color and multiple lighting options
- Original design by Nikko Industries.
In its November 8, 2024 account, Pocketpair said the plaintiffs asserted three patents: Nos. 7545191, 7493117 and 7528390. Pocketpair reported that the plaintiffs requested an injunction against Palworld and 5 million yen plus late-payment damages from each plaintiff-facing defendant amount—5 million yen to The Pokémon Company and the same amount to Nintendo. These were requested remedies as reported by Pocketpair, not damages awarded by a court.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is the case resolved?
No final outcome is established by the latest dated status report available here. Patent Arcade reported on July 27, 2026 that the case remained pending and that the plaintiffs had amended their claims in November 2025 to address versions from before Pocketpair changed the accused mechanics. The report described an October 1, 2026 evidence hearing and a November 9, 2026 decision as scheduled or expected. As of October 8, 2026, the reported decision date was still in the future; the report alone does not establish whether the hearing took place or what the court decided.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- This plush is approx. 5" x 4" x 4" in size
- Made from high-quality materials for a soft, fluffy touch.
- Fits in the palm of your hand!
- Own the whole #palmpalsparty collection!
- Holds bean pellets suitable for all ages to ensure quality and stability.
Rank #4
- This plush is approx. 4" x 4" x 4.5" in size
- Made from high-quality materials for a soft, fluffy touch.
- Fits in the palm of your hand!
- Own the whole #palmpalsparty collection!
- Holds bean pellets suitable for all ages to ensure quality and stability.
Rank #3
- This plush is approx. 5.5" x 3.5" x 3" in size.
- I am made from high-quality materials for a soft, fluffy touch.
- I fit in the palm of your hand!
- Own the whole #palmpalsparty collection!
- I hold bean pellets suitable for all ages to ensure my quality and stability.
Sources
- Pocketpair: “Regarding the lawsuit, changes to Palworld and the future” (May 8, 2025)
- Nintendo: “Filing Lawsuit for Infringement of Patent Rights against Pocketpair, Inc.” (September 19, 2024)
- Pocketpair: “Report on Patent Infringement Lawsuit” (November 8, 2024)
- Patent Arcade: “Palworld 1.0 Launches as Nintendo Patent Case Targets Earlier Versions” (July 27, 2026)
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