Pocketpair issued update 0.5.5 for Palworld on May 8, 2025, for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. This update implemented one notable change, which is the disabling of the option to use Pals for gliding. Players can no longer use Pals for movement in the air; they can only use conventional gliders. Although this shift restricts air mobility, the previously used Pals for gliding now offer passive benefits for flight.
This change is one of a series of game-related changes made by Pocketpair concerning an ongoing legal battle with Nintendo and The Pokémon Company. The case, which was filed in September 2024 in the Tokyo District Court, claims that Palworld violates several patents on creature-catching mechanics, such as using throwable objects to capture creatures, determining if a thrown object will enter combat or capture a creature, and riding creatures in the game.
In a statement released with the update, Pocketpair reaffirmed its disagreement with the claims, reaffirming that the patents in question are invalid. The company did admit that it needed to make some concessions to prevent Palworld’s development and release from being disrupted. Pocketpair highlighted that it is dedicated to its community, confirming that although the changes were not perfect, they had to be made to maintain the overall gameplay experience.
The case has wider implications for the gaming industry, specifically regarding the patentability of gameplay mechanics. Nintendo and The Pokémon Company have submitted several patents in Japan for creature-catching and riding mechanics. Some of these patents were submitted after Palworld’s launch, which has raised questions about their validity and the possible effect on innovation in the industry.
Despite the legal issues, Palworld has been a huge commercial success. The game sold more than 15 million copies on Steam alone and reached 10 million players on Xbox in its first month. Pocketpair has also announced to bring Palworld to more people through a mobile version, which will be developed in collaboration with Krafton, the publisher of PUBG.