Palworld PS5 Release Excludes Japan, Nintendo Lawsuit Likely the Reason

Palworld, the eagerly anticipated game, has officially launched on the PlayStation 5 following its announcement at the PlayStation State of Play in September 2024. However, the excitement is dampened for players in Japan due to an ongoing legal battle with Nintendo.

Palworld PlayStation Debut Announced at State of Play

Palworld's PS5 version hit the shelves today, as revealed during the PlayStation State of Play. Alongside this announcement, Sony released a captivating trailer featuring Palworld characters donning gear inspired by Aloy from the acclaimed action RPG, Horizon Forbidden West.

Despite the global launch, the game's availability is restricted in Japan. The Palworld PS5 version has been indefinitely postponed in the country due to a patent infringement lawsuit filed by Nintendo and Pokémon against the game's developer, Pocketpair.

Palworld PS5 Japan Release Date Still Undecided

Following Sony's global launch announcement, Palworld's official Japanese Twitter (X) account released a statement. "As announced on the official PlayStation State of Play, the PS5 version of 'Palworld' was released today in 68 countries and regions worldwide," they stated.

The team at Palworld expressed their regret to Japanese PlayStation enthusiasts, confirming that a release date for Japan remains undecided. "The release date for Japan has not yet been determined. We apologize to the Japanese players eagerly awaiting 'Palworld'. We are committed to delivering the game to all PS5 users as soon as possible," they added.

Pocketpair has not officially cited the reason for the delay in Japan, but it is widely believed to be connected to the legal action initiated by Nintendo and Pokémon. Last week, Nintendo filed a case in Tokyo Court, seeking an injunction and damages against Palworld. Should the court grant the injunction, it could force Pocketpair to halt operations on Palworld, potentially leading to the game's complete removal.