Palworld dev finds common ground with Nintendo, dismisses use of generative AI: "Our artists draw thousands of sketches"

Pal wields a massive turret in a screenshot from Palworld
(Image credit: Pocketpair)

Palworld has more in common with Pokemon than just its adorable little monsters.

After seemingly dodging Nintendo's legal ire, the Palword devs are now defending themselves on another front, dismissing accusations that they use generative AI in the game.

People online have been accusing Pocketpair of using generative AI to create Palworld's Pokemon-like creatures since launch, largely without evidence, and it seems the company's CEO, Takuro Mizobe, has had enough. In a tweet promoting to the August 2024 issue of Japanese magazine CGWORLD (via Automaton), in which he is interviewed, Mizobe shuts down the rumors in no uncertain terms.

"Palworld is often accused of using generative AI, but in reality, we do not use it," he said. "Our artists draw thousands of sketches. [The magazine feature] introduces part of our Pal creation process, so anyone interested should have a look!"

Of course, perhaps even more vocal than the AI accusers have been the folks criticizing Palworld for the likeness of its monsters to Pokemon, and shortly after the former launched, The Pokemon Company seemed to imply it was looking into a potential copyright violation. However, as recently as late June Pocketpair said it hadn't heard anything from Nintendo about Palworld.

Coincidentally, Nintendo itself recently commented on the growing presence of generative AI in video games. Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa said the company doesn't need to use AI because it has "decades of know-how" and doesn't want any "issues with intellectual property rights". 

Palworld makes another play for Pokemon's crown with an anime and merch-focused partnership with Sony - despite the lack of a PS5 version of the hit survival game.

Jordan Gerblick

After scoring a degree in English from ASU, I worked as a copy editor while freelancing for places like SFX Magazine, Screen Rant, Game Revolution, and MMORPG on the side. Now, as GamesRadar's west coast Staff Writer, I'm responsible for managing the site's western regional executive branch, AKA my apartment, and writing about whatever horror game I'm too afraid to finish.

Read more
Pal wields a massive turret in a screenshot from Palworld
Palworld devs tried, but the "certain franchise plus guns" brand in the West "has stuck with us to this very day despite our best efforts to shake that off"
Palworld
Palworld devs faced "so many challenges" in the survival game's first year as pre-launch attention "brought its own difficulties" and post-launch "accusations" were "a lot to handle"
Palworld
"We hit this disgusting number that makes me feel sick": Palworld devs don't know why their survival game was so successful - "If we knew how to do it, we'd do it again"
Palworld
Nintendo's Palworld lawsuit "came as a shock" to Pocketpair because patent infringement was "something that no one even considered"
Palworld
As Palworld studio's publishing branch teases new reveals, its head is "nervous" that "people will just expect more" games like its survival hit
Palworld
The Palworld lawsuit gets more complicated as Nintendo bags a US patent that sounds a lot like one of the reasons it's suing Pocketpair in Japan
Latest in Survival
The Forgotten Cellar door beneath St. Katherine's Church in Atomfall.
How to open the Forgotten Cellar door in Atomfall
The player reloading a revolver in Atomfall.
The best Atomfall Skills and how to unlock them
An enemy in Atomfall holding an axe in a forest.
10 Atomfall tips to help you escape the quarantine zone
Using the Signal Redirector on a signal box in Atomfall.
How to get the Signal Redirector in Atomfall
Should you help the Scientist in Atomfall?
Should you help the Scientist in Atomfall?
Palworld screenshot showing a green dinosaur-like creature with a red mushroom cap atop its head sitting in a wooden hot tub
Palworld isn't coming to the Switch as the open-world survival hit is a "beefy game," but Pocketpair says Switch 2 is "100% worth considering"
Latest in News
Everybody's Golf Hot Shots
The surprise theme of today's Nintendo Direct was classic PlayStation franchises getting a comeback without Sony's involvement
Hogwarts Legacy how many spells
Unannounced Hogwarts Legacy DLC reportedly canceled, partly because the studio wasn't sure it'd be worth players' money
Ultimate X-Men #14
Ultimate X-Men #14 pays homage to a classic Wolverine moment as the Shadow King returns
Assassin's Creed Shadows screenshot showing Yasuke kneeling and praying while wearing a traditional purple robe
Ubisoft reaches deal with Tencent to create $4.3 billion mini-Ubisoft subsidiary to "spearhead development" on new Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six games
Kaitlyn Dever as Abby in The Last Of Us season 2
The Last of Us showrunner says he isn't worried about fan reaction to season 2: "The best way we could respect our fans and honor them is to not worry about them"
Black Myth: Wukong
English is no longer the biggest language on Steam as Chinese gamers embrace PC gaming even harder after Black Myth: Wukong