Charmander and Pikachu are seeking to find a place in my base, as Pocketpair released Palworld on January 19. This game allows you to collect Pokemon-like creatures and keep them as your own. The game has quickly become a worldwide hit, with over 1.5 million concurrent players on Steam and 5 million copies sold within a week of its release.

It was anticipated, but the audience turnout was faster than expected. Palworld now features a Pokemon mod that transforms your playable character into Ash and your Pals into Pokemon. YouTuber ToastedShoes offered a brief look at the mod on his Twitter feed. The 24-second video showcases how the mod changes everything to be Pokemon-themed, including the Pals you encounter and your character.

Palworld vs. Pokemon

Although Palworld itself is not a Pokemon game, it has been compared to the series due to its capture and fight monster mechanics. However, the gameplay is distinct from that of actual Pokemon titles, incorporating various elements from survival and open-world RPG genres.

Palworld Pokemon Comparison

The Pokemon mod for Palworld allows you to capture well-loved creatures from the franchise, such as Torchic, Rattata, and more. The mod, shared by ToastedShoes, is described as a comprehensive transformation to make everything within the game Pokemon-themed. The clip shows Ash battling an Electabuzz and tracking a Torterra while Misty and Brock are also featured, with Misty wielding a gun.

Can We Expect to See More Palworld Mods in the Future?

While Palworld does not currently support mods, Pocketpair has announced plans to include mod support in a future update. Additional information can be found in the Steam FAQ.

Despite criticism for its similarities to Pokemon and concerns about the possible use of AI generation for the designs of the Pals, Palworld has been tremendously successful. The game’s Twitter announced that it has surpassed 5 million unit sales and currently holds the third-highest concurrent player count on Steam ever, with 1.5 million users playing at the same time.

While the creation of the Pokemon mod was expected, its rapid development was still surprising. However, the addition of iconic characters from the franchise to other games is not uncommon. There are examples even more surprising than Palworld, such as a mod that adds Koraidon to Elden Ring’s The Lands Between. Despite the absence of Pikachu and Pokemon mechanics within the game, the “Pokemon With Guns and Violence” concept has proven to be successful for Palworld.

Looks Like Pokemon in Palworld Isn’t Meant to Be

The substantial parallels between Palworld and Pokemon have sparked numerous discussions in forums. Following the viral post of the Pokemon mod shared by ToastedShoes, the Palworld Modding Community Discord, associated with the rapidly expanding PalworldMods subreddit, is distancing itself from the mod. The community expressed concerns about the potential risks posed by the mod and the possibility of litigious actions from Nintendo’s lawyers.

Given that the Pokemon mod likely uses assets that are not rightfully theirs, the concern is justified, as it could lead to legal consequences. Nintendo has a history of going after fan projects and mods, and discussions on Discord are often involved in DMCA cases with companies. To avoid trouble, the Palworld Modding Discord has prohibited the sharing of associated files or links, and any infractions will result in a permanent ban for the offender.

On the other hand, casual discussions and memes relating to Palworld’s Pokemon are still permissible, as long as they do not involve any dubious legal actions on the Discord channel.

Palworld is currently available on Steam and Xbox Game Pass. However, multiplayer options are more restricted for users on platforms other than Steam, with the Xbox Game Pass version only accommodating four players at a time due to the limitations of the Windows Store.