Japanese celebrities have reportedly been told not to mention Palworld to avoid Pokémon backlash

Japanese entertainment professionals have been reportedly told to refrain from mentioning Palworld in public or on social media, to avoid potential backlash from The Pokémon Company.

Toyko Sports reports that, according to a talent agency source, talent have been advised not to mention the game in case there are issues.

“We have told our talent not to mention Palworld on social media or in public,” the source said. “This was done out of consideration for the Pokémon side as an agency. This decision was made in consideration of future potential collaborations.”

Since launching into early access on PC and Xbox on last month, Palworld has become a huge breakout success. However, the survival game’s success ignited discourse around perceived similarities between its character designs and those of the Pokémon games, with many accusing it of plagiarism.

In January, The Pokémon Company broke its silence regarding Palworld, and said it was investigating if it infringes on its IP rights.

“We have not granted any permission for the use of Pokémon intellectual property or assets in that game,” it said. “We intend to investigate and take appropriate measures to address any acts that infringe on intellectual property rights related to the Pokémon.

“We will continue to cherish and nurture each and every Pokémon and its world, and work to bring the world together through Pokémon in the future.”

According to Microsoft, Palworld is the biggest third-party Game Pass launch to date. The Xbox version peaked at nearly 3 million daily active users, it said.

VGC’s review of Palworld said, “Everything that Palworld lacks in originality, it makes up for with impressive execution.

“The combination of survival genre elements with creature catching is hugely captivating, resulting in a serotonin-gobbling gameplay loop. Despite the modest size of the team creating it, Palworld’s litany of systems mesh perfectly together, defying its indie origins.”