Summary
- Pocketpair surprised the gaming community by releasing OverDungeon on the Nintendo eShop.
- OverDungeon combines action card game elements with tower defense mechanics.
- Despite an ongoing lawsuit, Pocketpair celebrated the launch of OverDungeon with a 50% off sale.
In a surprising move, Palworld developer Pocketpair has released its 2019 title, OverDungeon, on the Nintendo eShop. This launch comes amid ongoing legal challenges, as Pocketpair has been embroiled in a lawsuit with Nintendo and The Pokemon Company since September 2024 over its popular game, Palworld. The lawsuit alleges that Palworld's Pal Spheres infringe on Pokemon's creature-capturing system patents, sparking significant controversy in the gaming industry. Despite the legal battle, Pocketpair described the situation as "unfortunate" and committed to following the investigation procedures. Demonstrating resilience, the company released a major update for Palworld in December, which saw a surge in concurrent Steam players.
On January 9, Pocketpair unexpectedly made OverDungeon available for Nintendo Switch consoles. Originally launched only on Steam in 2019, OverDungeon is described on the Nintendo eShop as an action card game that incorporates tower defense and roguelike mechanics. This marks Pocketpair's first venture into the Switch market, and the launch was unannounced until the release. To celebrate its debut on the Nintendo platform, OverDungeon is available at a 50% discount until January 24. While Palworld is accessible on PS5 and Xbox, the choice to release OverDungeon on the Nintendo eShop has led some social media users to speculate that it might be a strategic move in response to the ongoing lawsuit with Nintendo.
Pocketpair Launches Its First Nintendo Switch Game Amid Lawsuit
While Palworld is undoubtedly Pocketpair's most well-known game, it's not the only title to draw comparisons to Nintendo's offerings. In 2020, Pocketpair released Craftopia, an RPG that bore striking similarities to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Despite these comparisons, Craftopia continues to receive updates on Steam, with the latest coming in December. Meanwhile, Pocketpair has remained proactive in promoting Palworld even during the lawsuit, announcing a collaboration with Terraria. The first phase of this collaboration introduced a new Pal named Meowmeow, with more Terraria-related content promised for 2025.
Since the lawsuit's announcement, little additional information has been disclosed by the involved parties. Some patent experts suggest that the legal battle over Palworld could extend for years without a settlement. Looking ahead, Pocketpair has hinted at further plans for Palworld in 2025, including potential ports to Mac and mobile platforms.
