The Pokemon in the Palworld mod, originally created by the Australian YouTuber ToastedShoes, has made a comeback after facing a DMCA from Nintendo. However, the characters and creatures in the mod now have legally distinct names, such as “yellow rat” and “blue penguin,” as reported by PCGamesN.
The controversy surrounding Palworld has been ongoing, with debates arising over its cute and colorful monster designs resembling those of Pokemon. ToastedShoes exacerbated the situation by incorporating actual Pokemon characters, Misty and Ash, into the game through modding. As expected, Nintendo’s legal team promptly issued DMCA takedowns for all social media videos featuring the mod.
In response, the mod has been re-released on Nexus Mods under the name “The Legally-Distinct Pocket Creatures Mod Pack.” The designs have been altered significantly to avoid legal issues with Nintendo.
The character Ash has been replaced by a model of ToastedShoes himself, donning a recognizable red-and-white cap. All Pokemon featured in the mod now have legally distinct counterparts, such as the “yellow rat” now resembling a generic yellow rodent.
ToastedShoes also updated his YouTube video for the mod, now stating that he is modding “bootleg Pokemon” into Palworld and showcasing the newly legally distinct creature designs.
The Palworld modding community is approaching this situation cautiously, with some modding communities outright banning Pokemon mods from their spaces. Nexus Mods has also announced its decision not to host Pokemon-themed Palworld mods to avoid potential legal repercussions from Nintendo.
