Capcom Designer Controversy: Yoshiki Okamoto Claims Palworld Crosses Forbidden Line!

The ongoing legal battle over patent infringement between Nintendo, The Pokémon Company, and Pocketpair, the creators of Palworld, has ignited significant discussions among both gamers and developers. Adding to the controversy, Yoshiki Okamoto, a seasoned former Capcom developer, recently uploaded a YouTube video that has triggered considerable backlash due to his critical remarks about Pocketpair and their game, Palworld.

Yoshiki Okamoto, who is currently the chairman of the Japan Game Culture Foundation, boasts an impressive career in the gaming industry spanning over four decades. His portfolio includes major titles such as Street Fighter 2, the original Resident Evil, and the popular mobile game, Monster Strike. Okamoto is also credited with conceptualizing the game that eventually became Rockstar’s Red Dead Revolver.

In his video dated September 27, Okamoto shared his views on the lawsuit between Nintendo and Pocketpair, criticizing Palworld by stating it had “crossed a line that should not be crossed, and I do not wish for a world where such actions are tolerated.”

He further commented that “if Nintendo reaches a settlement with Pocketpair, then Palworld may be deemed acceptable. However, as it stands, the game is under litigation and thus should not be supported. Please refrain from purchasing it.”

These statements, especially his use of a partially censored term that viewers interpreted as “hansha” or “anti-social force,” sparked a wave of criticism in the video’s comment section. This term is typically associated with criminal organizations, and calling Pocketpair such could be seen as defamatory. One commenter noted that while Okamoto’s argument about not supporting games with questionable content was persuasive, it led them to stop playing Monster Strike after nearly two decades. Other comments included criticism of Okamoto’s assumptions about the game’s negative impact simply because it’s being sued and his inappropriate labeling of Pocketpair.

Okamoto admitted he has never played Palworld, despite recommendations, and has no plans to try it or spend money on it. He recognized the polarized views of the game, placing himself in the anti-Palworld camp, but acknowledged the existence of its fans.

He also expressed concerns in his video that should Pocketpair win the lawsuit and release the full version of Palworld, it might set a precedent that tolerates copyright infringement if the game is well-received and reviewed favorably. This could potentially lead to more blatant copying of Nintendo’s intellectual properties, including by using generative AI technologies.

However, some commenters argued that many games, including those Okamoto had worked on, have incorporated elements from earlier games developed by other companies. They mentioned similarities between Street Fighter 2 and earlier fighting games, and between Monster Strike’s user interface and that of Puzzle & Dragons. Some also mentioned that Okamoto’s comments about generative AI perpetuated unfounded rumors about Palworld’s development.

Addressing the changes made to Palworld’s mechanics at the center of the lawsuit, Okamoto speculated that Pocketpair might have found a way to settle the dispute with Nintendo, evidenced by their announcement of an official full game release. However, he noted the lack of concrete information available at this time.

Recently, just a week after Nintendo introduced the cozy farming sim Pokémon Pokopia, Pocketpair announced Palworld: Palfarm. They also declared that Palworld will have its official version 1.0 release in 2026, announced on September 16.

Verity Townsend, based in Japan, is a freelance writer who has formerly worked as an editor, contributor, and translator for the game news website Automaton West. She has also penned articles about Japanese culture and cinema for various outlets.