Palworld’s long-awaited version 1.0 update has finally been released today, and it contains several “large-scale overhauls,” including 72 new Pals, new locations, and an increased level cap.
However, fans have noticed something curious about the 1.0 update that was left out of the patch notes, as several of the preexisting creature designs have also seemingly been altered in a bid to make them less Pokémon-like.
As spotted by user Rasen on X (via ResetEra), at least four Pals have been reworked in Palworld’s 1.0 update, and while developer and publisher Pocketpair hasn’t confirmed the reasoning behind said reworks, it’s quite obvious that at least three of them have been changed due to comparisons between their previous designs and preexisting Pokémon.
PALWORLD UPDATED A BUNCH OF THE PALS VERDASH IS NOW A SMOL BOI INSTEAD OF GRASS CINDERACE pic.twitter.com/NS65PcDPfb
— Rasen (@rasenburst) July 10, 2026
For instance, while the comparison between Palworld’s previous version of Grintale and Pokémon’s Perrserker could be argued, as the comparisons between the two boiled down to their facial features, the comparisons between Palworld’s previous Robinquill design and Pokémon’s Decidueye are far, far more blatant.
While Pocketpair hasn’t issued any sort of statement on the changes, nor could I find any mention of the altered designs in the Palworld 1.0 patch notes, it wouldn’t be surprising if these alterations had something to do with the ongoing Palworld/Pokémon lawsuit between Pocketpair and Nintendo.
That being said, as a user over on ResetEra pointed out, one of the new Pals introduced in Palworld’s update, Hoodle, looks a hell of a lot like a cross between Astro Bot’s protagonist and the ‘Mon Mimikyu, so perhaps Pocketpair isn’t as bothered about ripping off Pokémon designs as these alterations may otherwise imply.
Kotaku reached out to Pocketpair for comment to discern the influence behind the altered designs but did not receive a reply before publishing.