Tokyo Game Show 2024 annually garners significant attention as a venue for new announcements and collaborations in the gaming industry. However, this year, an unexpected change has become the focus. It has been revealed that the content of a talk session scheduled at the Discord booth on September 26 was altered by September 24. The originally planned discussion with Pocket Pair, the developers and operators of the game “Palworld,” was changed due to the company’s withdrawal from participation.
Changes to the Discord Talk Session
Initially, it was announced that Discord and Pocket Pair would have a discussion on the theme of “The Future of Multiplayer Games.” However, in a blog post published by Discord on September 23, it was announced that while the theme remains the same, the speakers have been changed to Katsuhiko Hayashi, Representative of Kadokawa/Famitsu Group, and Ken Inagaki, Senior Director of Sony PlayStation Product Development.
According to Discord’s public relations representative, they received a notice from Pocket Pair stating they would “withdraw from appearing on the main stage,” leading to changes in the event’s content. They explained that they had initially invited Mr. Hayashi to participate as a moderator and were also coordinating with Mr. Inagaki.
Legal Issues Surrounding Pocket Pair
It is believed that this sudden withdrawal is due to legal issues Pocket Pair is currently facing. On September 19, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company filed a lawsuit against Pocket Pair, alleging that “Palworld” infringes on multiple patent rights. In response, Pocket Pair issued a statement on the same day, stating, “At this time, we have not received the complaint and cannot confirm the claims or the content of the patent rights allegedly infringed. Therefore, we have no plans to suspend or change the operation and provision of ‘Palworld.'”
Impact on the Industry and Future Outlook
Pocket Pair’s withdrawal can be seen as an event that reaffirms the complexity and importance of intellectual property rights in the gaming industry. Lawsuits from major companies, in particular, can significantly impact the management and project progress of small game development companies.
This situation can also serve as a lesson for other indie game developers. While pursuing unique ideas and designs, they need to exercise utmost caution not to infringe on the intellectual property rights of other companies.
Summary
The sudden withdrawal of Pocket Pair from Tokyo Game Show 2024 has surprised many gamers and industry stakeholders. We hope that the legal issues will be resolved and that we will once again have the opportunity to see the company’s new initiatives and works. Meanwhile, the upcoming talk session will feature a discussion on “The Future of Multiplayer Gaming” by new speakers, which also promises to be content not to be missed.
The gaming industry continues to evolve and change constantly. We will continue to keep an eye on the latest information and share it with everyone.
