Palland Sparks Controversy on Nintendo Switch eShop as Palworld Clone Amid Ongoing Lawsuits

Palland Sparks Controversy on Nintendo Switch eShop as Palworld Clone Amid Ongoing Lawsuits The Nintendo Switch eShop has recently seen the arrival of a new game that is drawing significant attention for all the wrong reasons.

Titled Palland and developed by BoggySoft, this recent launch has ignited debate within the gaming community due to its striking similarities to Palworld, the massively successful title from developer Pocketpair.

The controversy comes at a particularly sensitive time, as Pocketpair is currently embroiled in a highly publicized lawsuit filed by Nintendo, alleging copyright infringement and content overlap with the popular Pokémon franchise. Palland officially launched on 31st July 2025 for the Nintendo Switch, making it to digital storefronts just as the gaming world continues to scrutinize the legal battle between Nintendo and Pocketpair.

As reported by multiple industry outlets, the new game’s basic description, promotional artwork, and in-game screenshots bear close resemblance to Palworld, raising questions about intellectual property boundaries and the prevalence of knock-offs on the Switch eShop. Developed by the relatively unknown studio BoggySoft, Palland entered the market with an initial offering price, only to be heavily discounted by 60% soon after release—now available for just £3.99 / $5.99.

Industry observers note that such significant price reductions so soon after launch can sometimes signal a lack of confidence in product reception or sales potential.

Moreover, there are notable discrepancies between the eShop listings and real gameplay.

Video reviews from channels such as Nintendo Hall and Game Buoy Games have highlighted that the actual visual quality is underwhelming when compared to its promotional images, sparking further criticism from players and fans alike. While comparisons to Palworld are obvious, some in the gaming community see Palland as also drawing heavily from the iconic Pokémon formula—an issue that prompted Nintendo’s lawsuit against Pocketpair in the first place.

Although the classification of Palland as a direct clone is debated, the visual and gameplay similarities are difficult to ignore.

A spokesperson from the gaming press summed up the sentiment, stating that "the eShop screenshots do not reflect the genuine in-game experience, with both content and quality failing to match expectations." This unusual situation creates an echo of Nintendo’s ongoing legal efforts: the game at the center of a major copyright infringement case now finds itself imitated on the very platform where that legal drama unfolds.

As it stands, there is no official word on whether Pocketpair intends to pursue legal action against BoggySoft over Palland, particularly while they remain engaged in their own legal dispute with Nintendo.

For now, Palland’s release brings renewed attention to issues of originality and copyright enforcement on digital gaming platforms. With increasing scrutiny on the integrity of titles listed on the Nintendo Switch eShop, both developers and platform holders face calls for tighter oversight to preserve the quality and reputation of the digital storefront.

As the story develops, both consumers and industry professionals will be watching closely to see if further action is taken concerning Palland, and what this could mean for the future of game releases on Nintendo platforms.

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