Following its Xbox and PC release, Palworld finally arrives on PlayStation consoles, as announced during September 2024's PlayStation State of Play. However, a significant exception exists: the PS5 launch is delayed indefinitely in Japan due to ongoing legal issues.
Palworld's PlayStation 5 Debut: A Global Launch, Except Japan
State of Play Announcement and Horizon Forbidden West Collaboration
The PS5 version of Palworld launched globally as revealed at the PlayStation State of Play event in September 2024. Sony's promotional material even showcased Palworld characters sporting gear inspired by Aloy from *Horizon Forbidden West*.Despite this global rollout, Japanese PlayStation players are currently unable to access the game. This delay is directly linked to legal action by Nintendo and Pokémon against developer Pocketpair.
Japan Release Date Uncertain Amidst Legal Battle
Palworld's official Japanese Twitter (now X) account addressed the situation, confirming the worldwide release (excluding Japan) and apologizing for the delay. They stated that a Japanese release date is yet to be determined, promising to update players as soon as possible.
The reason for the delay remains officially unstated by Pocketpair, but the ongoing patent infringement lawsuit filed by Nintendo and Pokémon in Tokyo Court is widely considered the cause. Nintendo's lawsuit seeks injunctions and damages, potentially leading to the cessation of Palworld's operations and removal from the market entirely. The outcome of this legal battle will directly impact the game's future availability in Japan.
