Palworld, showcased at PlayStation's September 2024 State of Play, is now available on PlayStation consoles following its Xbox and PC releases. However, a significant exception exists: the PS5 launch is indefinitely delayed in Japan.
Palworld's PlayStation 5 Debut and Japanese Delay
Palworld's PS5 Arrival Announced at State of Play
The PS5 version of Palworld launched globally as announced during the PlayStation State of Play event. Sony even featured a trailer showcasing a Palworld character with Horizon Forbidden West-inspired gear. Despite the global launch, Japanese PlayStation players are currently unable to access the game.
Japan Release Date Uncertain Due to Legal Action
Palworld's Japanese (X) Twitter account confirmed the worldwide release, excluding Japan. They apologized for the delay and stated that a Japanese release date is yet to be determined. The reason for this delay is widely believed to be the ongoing legal battle between Nintendo, Pokémon, and Palworld developer Pocketpair. Nintendo filed a patent infringement lawsuit in Tokyo Court last week, seeking an injunction and damages. A granted injunction could halt Palworld's operations entirely. Pocketpair has not officially commented on the connection between the lawsuit and the Japan-specific delay.
