Palworld players have spotted that developer Pocketpair has altered several Pal designs for the 1.0 launch, leaving some saying they now look less like the Pokémon they had resembled.
Pocketpair published detailed patch notes for Palworld’s 1.0 version earlier this week listing hundreds of additions, changes and improvements. However, these patch notes do not discuss the changes to several Pal designs, leaving players to instead discover the updated looks for themselves.
With Palworld 1.0 now out in the wild, players are doing just that — and have remarked on the alterations to Verdash, Robinquill, Fengallop, and Grintale, which previously displayed more distinct similarities to more familiar Pokémon species Cinderace, Decidueye, Cobalion, and Galarian Meowth.
Verdash has become more squirrel-like, less similar to the soccer-playing rabbit he previously resembled. Robinquill has lost its red cape, an object which made its silhouette familiar to Pokémon fans. Fengallop now looks more deer-like, with altered colors to make it more distinct. And the feline Grintale has had its mouth redesigned, so its facial figures are now more original.
On the Palworld reddit, a lengthy thread is discussing the changes in a largely positive light, with many saying the updated models are improved. But even then, the understanding that these are similar to specific Pokémon species appears to be well understood.
“Can’t believe that they actually went back and improved them to make them feel less kitbashy or repurposed, in terms of them feeling like bunch of bits taken or swapped around from various Pokemon,” wrote Palworld fan DefaultProducts.
“I’m kinda glad they redid the whole deer design, it looks a bit too much like a femme fluffy Coballion before to me,” wrote Mr_w00fy.
“I’m glad they redesigned green Cinderace,” Omnifob wrote. “It was too close to its inspiration, now it looks really cute. I like the redesign of Robinquill too, something about the original bothered me.”
“Verdash and Robinquil were both Pals I refused to use because they looked too close to their inspo,” wrote Vvattvery. “Now I see myself using them.”
Discussion of the changes is more critical on video game forum ResetEra, where many have suggested the creatures should never have looked so similar to Pokémon in the first place. “Better late than never, I guess!” said forum user Greywaren. “It’s hilarious how blatant some of the model rips were, and people still jumped to defend them.”
“Tell me it’s an admission of guilt without telling me it’s an admission of guilt energy,” wrote KezayJS1. “But hey, it’s good that they’re doing this because much of their initial designs were blatant mashups of actual Pokemon design elements.”
Comparisons have been made between Palworld’s Pals and Pokémon since before Palworld’s launch, when many accused developer Pocketpair of “ripping off” Pokémon designs. Nintendo and The Pokémon Company also took notice, opting to file a patent dispute over gameplay similarities. In the initial lawsuit, the two companies called for Pocketpair to pay 5 million yen (approx $30,000) each plus late payment damages, as well as an injunction against Palworld that would block its release. A judgement is expected later this year, though Pocketpair has already made changes to the game’s mechanics, believed to be in response to that legal action. IGN has contacted Pocketpair for comment.
Check out IGN’s Palworld review so far to find out what we think of the 1.0 update.
Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
