Palworld removes Pal gliding because it continues its authorized battle with Nintendo

Nintendo’s attorneys have killed one other Palworld gameplay mechanic. Pocketpair issued a patch on Thursday that adjustments how gliding works within the cheeky “Pokémon with guns” satire.

You possibly can nonetheless glide in Palworld, however you may not use your Pal to take action. Beginning with patch v0.5.5, you may solely soar with a boring, inanimate glider in your stock. Though Glider Friends can nonetheless passively buff gliding, it is not as enjoyable as flinging out the creature and utilizing their aerodynamics to cross a ravine.

As you’d count on, Pocketpair’s resolution traces again to its authorized protection. Nintendo and The Pokémon Firm sued the developer in Japan last year, claiming Palworld infringes on a number of patents. Since then, Nintendo has filed a flurry of patent functions within the US in an obvious scheme to go international with its authorized assault.

“We perceive that this might be disappointing for a lot of, simply as it’s for us,” Pocketpair wrote. “However we hope our followers perceive that these adjustments are mandatory with a purpose to stop additional disruptions to the event of Palworld.”

As we speak’s replace is not the primary to bork the sport to attempt to stave off the Mario maker’s authorized barrage. In November, Palworld removed the flexibility to summon Friends by throwing Spheres, one of many sport’s extra Pokémon-esque particulars. However gliding is a a lot much less established Pokémon gameplay mechanic. On high of that, it is a frequent one within the trade, present in franchises as various as Far Cry, Fortnite and Batman: Arkham.

The lawsuit sparks fears that trade behemoths utilizing the courts to snuff out smaller opponents will develop into extra widespread. “Video game patent mechanics has to totally die given the way it’s both abused by main firms to cripple any competitors or totally wasted like with the Nemesis system from Center-earth video games,” u/DenseCalligrapher219 opined on Reddit.

One other option to view Nintendo’s transfer is that it masks the stench of a stagnant franchise. “If Nintendo goes to sabotage different Pokémon-like video games, the least they may do is get Sport Freak to develop a Pokémon sport that is not rubbish,” wrote u/VacantThoughts. “The world’s largest franchise with the world’s laziest half-ass devs.”