Following its Xbox and PC release, Palworld finally arrived on PlayStation consoles, as announced during the September 2024 PlayStation State of Play. However, a significant exception exists: the PS5 launch has been indefinitely delayed in Japan.

Palworld's PlayStation 5 Debut and Japanese Delay

Palworld's PS5 Launch

The Japanese Delay: A Legal Battle

The absence of Palworld on Japanese PS5 consoles is directly linked to ongoing legal action. Nintendo and Pokémon have filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Pocketpair, Palworld's developer, in Japan. This legal battle has placed the PS5 release in Japan on indefinite hold.

Palworld's Japanese Twitter (X) account issued a statement acknowledging the global launch but expressing regret over the delay in Japan. No release date has been set for the region. The statement attributed the delay to the ongoing legal proceedings, though the specifics remain undisclosed.

The lawsuit filed by Nintendo seeks an injunction and damages. A successful injunction could severely impact Pocketpair's operations, potentially leading to the game's removal from all platforms. The situation remains unresolved, casting uncertainty over the future of Palworld's availability in Japan.