Palworld Skips Japan Release Amid Nintendo Legal Concerns

Following its Xbox and PC release, Palworld finally arrived on PlayStation consoles, as announced during PlayStation's September 2024 State of Play event. However, a significant exception exists: the PS5 launch has been delayed indefinitely in Japan.

Palworld's PlayStation 5 Debut in Japan: An Unexpected Delay

Palworld's PS5 State of Play Reveal

While the PS5 version launched globally, Japan is notably absent from the release. This delay is strongly linked to ongoing legal action between Nintendo, Pokémon, and Palworld developer Pocketpair.

The Uncertain Future of Palworld's Japanese PS5 Release

Palworld's official Japanese Twitter (X) account addressed the situation, confirming the worldwide PS5 release (excluding Japan) and apologizing to Japanese fans. They stated that a Japanese release date remains undetermined. The statement emphasized their commitment to bringing the game to all PS5 players as soon as possible.

Although Pocketpair hasn't explicitly stated the reason for the delay, the ongoing legal battle is widely presumed to be the cause. Nintendo's recent patent infringement lawsuit filed in Tokyo District Court, seeking injunctions and damages, casts a long shadow over Palworld's future in Japan. A granted injunction could force Pocketpair to halt Palworld operations entirely, potentially leading to the game's removal from the market.