Gaming

What’s up with Palworld, the game everyone’s talking about?

Plagiarized or unique?

Published

January 24, 2024

Luigi Leonardo

In case you missed it, 2024’s most viral hit just dropped over the weekend, and it’s only January. If you didn’t miss it, then yes, this is about Palworld, the game that everyone is talking about. Whether you’re already setting up camp in Palpagos Island or still hovering over the buy button, here’s what you need to know about the controversial Pokémon lookalike.

What is Palworld?

As the last two words explicitly hint, Palworld earned its surprising fame to the meme-worthy moniker as “Pokémon with guns.” As soon as everyone started calling it that, social media immediately hopped on and strapped a rocket onto the indie game’s back, making it one of the most successful launches on Steam.

In fact, calling it a finished game might be overstating it. Steam released Palworld as an early access game on January 18. Developed by an independent studio called Pocket Pair, the small game relies heavily on mechanics from other popular games.

Besides featuring creatures that look awfully similar to Pokémon, it also has a survival mechanic reminiscent of Ark: Survival Evolved, Minecraft, and Rust. The exploration in the game also reminds players of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Genshin Impact.

In a nutshell, players find themselves in Palpagos Island in a simple quest to survive. To do so, they have to gather resources, research technologies, and build bases. The island’s inhabitants aren’t the friendliest either. Boss battles are aplenty featuring a crime syndicate right on the island. Also, if players commit crime, a police force is ready to arrest them.

Now, players don’t have to do the heavy lifting on their own. Around the island, Palworld has over a hundred creatures known as Pals. To catch them, players have to use ball-shaped items called Pal Spheres. Every Pal has their own special ability to help out with battling or base-building.

The controversy

Catching adorable animals with balls for battles? The premise will likely sound familiar to most players. After a lot of people jumped on the “Pokémon with guns” meme, the other side of social media turned on the trendy game by criticizing its apparent plagiarism on the popular Nintendo franchise.

Some users have even accused Pocket Pair of using AI to generate creatures for Palworld. To be clear, there is absolutely no evidence that the game uses AI for creature designs. At the very least, it’s apparent that Pocket Pair heavily relied on existing Pokémon designs for its own creatures.

AI or not, nothing could stop irked Pokémon fans from sharing their grievances against the game. Some have even called for boycotts.

Are the allegations justified?

However, despite the obvious similarities to the Pokémon franchise, Palworld remains playable on Steam. For a generally litigious company, Nintendo hasn’t touched the base game at all.

To further hammer that point in, a modder developed a way to import Pokémon assets to the game. Nintendo wasted no time and took the mod down. The base game was left alone, though. It’s clear that Nintendo is fine with the game (or, at the very least, does not have any legal recourse against it).

Also, this isn’t Pocket Pair’s first rodeo. The studio’s previous game, Craftopia, likewise gathers a lot of inspiration and assets from another Nintendo property, The Legend of Zelda. The available screenshots clearly show a reskinned Bokoblin and a paraglider. Despite all those, the game is still up on Steam. Whatever Pocket Pair is doing, Nintendo seems perfectly okay with letting things roll.

Should you play Palworld?

As with every incredibly popular game today, play what you want. Palworld is clearly capturing everyone’s attention right now. If you want to join the fun, you absolutely could. It’s a fun game with a unique creature-catching mechanic. If anything, The Pokémon Company can take some pointers to improve their own series.

Likewise, if the plagiarism issue is too much, refusing to play the title is an acceptable choice, too. After all, originality should be valued in the creative industry. Just don’t force others to make the same decision.

Regardless of which side you lean more towards, Palworld is certainly a moment in time for 2024. Of course, the game’s longevity still remains to be seen. At the very least, it’s something a lot of people can enjoy.

Gaming

Resident Evil Requiem is out now

30 years later

Published

February 28, 2026

GadgetMatch

Resident Evil Requiem is now available worldwide, marking the ninth mainline entry in Capcom’s long-running survival horror franchise.

The game launches today on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S, Steam, Epic Games Store, and GeForce NOW. Set 30 years after the Raccoon City Incident, the story returns players to the ruins of a city that defined the series’ legacy.

This time, players follow two protagonists: newcomer Grace Ashcroft, an FBI intelligence analyst investigating a string of mysterious deaths tied to her mother’s murder, and returning fan favorite Leon S. Kennedy. As their paths converge at the center of a new outbreak, both must confront the lingering trauma of Raccoon City and uncover the truth behind the incident that changed the world.

First-person or third-person

For the first time in the series, players can freely switch between first-person and third-person perspectives, blending immersive horror with more dynamic action. Multiple difficulty settings are available, including a Casual mode with aim assist and a Standard (Classic) mode that reintroduces the Ink Ribbon save system while playing as Grace.

Editions available

Resident Evil Requiem is available in Standard and Deluxe editions. The Deluxe edition includes five costumes, four weapon skins, two screen filters, two charms, and additional bonus content. A Premium Steelbook Edition bundles the Deluxe content with a limited-edition lenticular card, available while supplies last.

Capcom is also celebrating the launch with a slate of collaborations and collectibles. These include a themed Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller, the franchise’s first-ever amiibo figures of Grace and Leon arriving July 30, 2026, limited-edition watches designed with Hamilton, a one-of-a-kind Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT created as Leon’s in-game vehicle, and 1/6 scale collectible figures launching this fall.

Resident Evil Symphony of Legacy

To mark the series’ 30th anniversary, the Resident Evil Symphony of Legacy orchestral concert series will tour Japan, North America, and Europe later this year. Meanwhile, Resident Evil 7 biohazard Gold Edition and Resident Evil Village Gold Edition also arrive on Nintendo Switch 2 today, alongside a Generation Pack bundle exclusive to the platform.

With a return to Raccoon City and a new chapter in survival horror underway, Resident Evil Requiem ushers in what Capcom calls a new era for the iconic franchise.

Gaming

Tales of Berseria Remastered is out now on consoles and PC

A tale of emotion returns

Published

February 28, 2026

GadgetMatch

Bandai Namco Entertainment has announced that Tales of Berseria Remastered is out now. It’s available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam.

The remaster brings back the 2016 action RPG with visual and quality-of-life upgrades tailored for current-generation platforms. A new launch trailer accompanies the release. It offers a fresh look at Velvet’s journey, her party members, and her fateful clash with Altorius.

In celebration of the launch, fans in Southeast Asia can join an exclusive giveaway for a chance to win signed memorabilia from their favorite cast member. Details are available via Bandai Namco Entertainment Asia’s official Facebook and Instagram pages. A special video featuring the voice cast has also been released as part of the festivities.

A revenge story returns

Originally released in 2016, Tales of Berseria stood out as the first entry in the long-running franchise to feature a solo female protagonist. Players step into the role of Velvet. Her once gentle nature gives way to a burning desire for revenge after the death of her younger brother.

The remastered edition preserves the emotional weight of that story while refining the experience for modern hardware. Players can now toggle enemy encounters in fields and dungeons and view clearer destination icons for smoother navigation. The familiar Grade Shop is also unlocked from the start, allowing for a more flexible playthrough.

More than 70 pieces of DLC from the original release are included, ranging from character outfits inspired by previous Tales titles to helpful equipment for early adventures.

Game editions and bonuses

Tales of Berseria Remastered is available in both physical and digital formats. The Digital Deluxe Edition includes the base game, a Battle BGM pack, a digital artbook and soundtrack, and a Super Growth Support Herb Set.

Early purchasers and pre-order customers receive the Super Adventuring Assistance Set, which includes Apple Gel x10, Grape Gel x10, Life Bottle x10, and Panacea Bottle x10.

Physical copies also feature a reversible inlay with two different cover designs.

Gaming

Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves will launch in 2027

The region is based on Southeast Asia.

Published

February 27, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

The tenth generation of Pokémon is here! Kicking off the franchise’s celebration for thirty successful years, The Pokémon Company announced the next mainline games: Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves.

The announcement trailer started with a nostalgic reminiscing of a Pikachu across all the different generations over the years. A sudden knock on the door breaks the protagonist’s reminiscing. At the door are two Pikachu dressed in vacation clothes, standing outside a beach house on stilts.

Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves isn’t just another trip to another roaring urban-to-rural region. Rather, the generation’s yet-unnamed region wants you to take a vacation in a place inspired by Southeast Asia.

Because of its tropical locale, a lot of the Pokémon featured are more nature- and animal-based. You won’t see a lot of the newer creatures inspired by objects here.

The region will also have a variety of biomes including a forest, a beach, and even an underground volcanic section. And, making a comeback for the first time in years, there will seemingly be an underwater biome filled with aquatic Pokémon.

Highlighting the new generation are three new starter Pokémon: Browt, the Grass-type bird Pokémon; Pombon, the Fire-type dog Pokémon; and Gecqua, the Water-type gecko Pokémon.