Palworld Developer Surprise Launches Another Game on Nintendo Switch Despite Lawsuit

Summary

• Pocketpair surprised fans with the release of OverDungeon on the Nintendo eShop.
• OverDungeon is a unique blend of action card game, tower defense, and roguelike mechanics.
• Despite a legal battle with Nintendo and The Pokémon Company, Pocketpair celebrated the launch with a 50% discount.

In a surprising move, Pocketpair, the developer behind the controversial Palworld, has quietly launched its 2019 title, OverDungeon, on the Nintendo eShop. This release comes amidst an ongoing legal dispute with Nintendo and The Pokémon Company.

In September 2024, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company filed a lawsuit against Pocketpair, alleging that Palworld's Pal Spheres infringed on Pokémon's creature-capturing system patents. The lawsuit sparked significant debate within the gaming industry. While Pocketpair acknowledged the situation as "unfortunate" and pledged cooperation, Palworld continued to receive updates, including a major December update that boosted its concurrent Steam player count. Now, in a seemingly bold counter-move, OverDungeon arrives on the Nintendo eShop.

On January 9th, Pocketpair unexpectedly released OverDungeon for Nintendo Switch. Originally launched on Steam in 2019, OverDungeon is an action card game incorporating tower defense and roguelike elements, as described on the eShop. This marks Pocketpair's first Nintendo Switch title, announced without prior warning. To celebrate its Switch debut, OverDungeon is currently available at a 50% discount until January 24th. The decision to release OverDungeon on the Nintendo eShop, while Palworld is available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox, has fueled speculation online, with some suggesting it might be a strategic response to the ongoing lawsuit.

Pocketpair Launches Its First Nintendo Switch Game Amidst Lawsuit

While Palworld is Pocketpair's most well-known game, it's not the first to draw comparisons to Nintendo titles. In 2020, the company released Craftopia, an RPG bearing similarities to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Craftopia continues to receive updates on Steam. Despite the lawsuit, Pocketpair has maintained active promotion of Palworld, even announcing a collaboration with Terraria. This crossover initially introduced a new Pal, Meowmeow, with further Terraria-themed content planned for 2025.

Since the lawsuit's inception, limited information has been shared publicly by the involved parties. Patent experts suggest the case could extend for years without a settlement. Beyond the Terraria collaboration, Pocketpair has hinted at further Palworld developments in 2025, including a Mac port and a potential mobile release.