The developer of Palworld has warned people against downloading fake mobile phone games that look like they’re Palworld.
In a tweet, Palworld developer Pocketpair said “there is no Palworld application for phones”, after noticing apps using names and product images from Palworld had popped up on the App Store and Google Play.
“They are not affiliated with our company in any way,” the statement continued. “We have reported this issue to Apple, which operates the App Store, and Google, which operates Google Play. Please be aware that downloading these apps may lead to the leakage of personal information stored on your smartphone or to fraud.”
It’s perhaps unsurprising to see fake Palworld mobile apps appear given the enormous sales success of the original, which launched in early access form on PC via Steam and on Xbox to the tune of eight million sales in just six days.
But Palworld is also one of the most controversial video game releases in recent memory. Developer Pocketpair has said its staff have received death threats amid Pokémon “rip-off” claims, which it has denied. Nintendo has moved quickly to remove an eye-catching Pokémon mod, and then The Pokemon Company issued a statement, saying: “We intend to investigate and take appropriate measures to address any acts that infringe on intellectual property rights related to Pokémon.” IGN asked lawyers whether Nintendo could successfully sue.
Meanwhile, Palworld continues to blow up on Steam, where it became the second most-played game in the platform’s history. If you’re playing, be sure to check out IGN’s interactive Palworld map.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
