Palworld update changes some Pokémon-like throwing mechanics following Nintendo lawsuit

We may be seeing the first fruits of Nintendo’s lawsuit against Palworld as the survival game has changed the way players summon its totally-not-Pokémon pocket monsters.

According to the latest patch notes that went live Nov. 29, monsters in Palworld will no longer be called to battle by aiming and throwing the Pal Spheres that contain them but will instead simply appear alongside the player when summoned.

Palworld launched Jan. 19 after several years of teasers promoting the game as an open-world Pokémon-like where monsters could be ridden, outfitted with AK-47s, and conscripted as slave labor in weapons factories. Its wacky concept and inclusion on Xbox Game Pass led to a lot of buzz early on, but Palworld soon attracted the wrong kind of attention when Nintendo and The Pokémon Company sued developer Pocketpair for patent infringement in September 2024.

The lawsuit concerned Poké Ball throwing and Pokémon riding mechanics, for which Nintendo and The Pokémon Company own patents in Japan. Since the lawsuit was filed, Pocketpair has released Palworld on PlayStation 5 and mobile outside of Japan, but the Nov. 29 update to the throwing mechanics in the game may indicate the studio has decided to comply rather than suffer through a lengthy legal battle against Nintendo and The Pokémon Company.

Something related to Palworld is scheduled to appear at The Game Awards on Dec. 12, though the game has received zero nominations.