Earlier this week, some followers of the situation surrounding Palworld, a new crafting survival game that features creatures that look a heck of a lot like Pokémon, were convinced the game was safe from Nintendo because Nintendo shut down a mod that made those monsters literally Pokémon but left Palworld alone. That no longer seems to be the case.

In a statement posted to The Pokémon Company website, the company informed readers that they are aware of "another company's game released in January 2024." The full statement reads:

We have received many inquiries regarding another company’s game released in January 2024. We have not granted any permission for the use of Pokémon intellectual property or assets in that game. 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.

Their stated mission statement to "cherish and nurture each and every Pokémon and its world" is at odds with Palworld, whose hook is making legally distinct not-Pokémon work in mines and shoot guns.

It also proves that The Pokémon Company is at least investigating Palworld for potential copyright infringement and there are famously several Palworld monster designs that seem barely distinguishable from existing Pokémon.

The Pokémon Company's statement has been interpreted in various ways online. Some think it's the company paying mere lip service to the clear parallels between the two games, assuring their fans that they're at least aware of Palworld, while others think it's the canary in the coal mine signaling Palworld's doom.

Palworld's 2024 run https://t.co/qSyUV62HfX pic.twitter.com/5elvW5OObP

— 🅿️ (@limitedpb) January 25, 2024

Basically, the discourse surrounding Palworld, of which there is a lot, doesn't show signs of letting up any time soon, and if The Pokémon Company somehow kills it, one can expect that the legions of online soldiers who have taken sides in a perceived Pokémon vs. Palworld war will have strong opinions about it.