Earlier this week, the announcements for The Game Awards nominees were made, and it left a few fans scratching their heads, especially those rooting for Palworld. This unique game has captivated players with its quirky fusion of Pokémon themes and a more intense, action-packed gameplay that involves guns. Released last January, Palworld managed to achieve a level of success that surprised many in the gaming world. Yet, despite its popularity boost, the game didn’t secure a single nomination at The Game Awards. Not even a nod in the ongoing game category made the cut, leading some in the gaming community to cry foul and accuse the awards of overlooking it.
This is not entirely unexpected. Every year, the event sparks debates over which titles deserved recognition but didn’t make it to the spotlight. The Game Awards often double as a hub for high-stakes game promotions, making these discussions a mainstay of the gaming community.
But how does the Palworld team feel about this? Interestingly, John Buckley, the game’s community manager, doesn’t seem too concerned. As noted by PC Gamer, he expressed his views on Twitter. “No, I don’t think Palworld was snubbed,” Buckley tweeted. His point was clear: Twitter, and possibly gamers themselves, have become a bit somber and prone to overblown reactions. He urged players not to see conspiracies behind every oversight. While Buckley’s thoughts might not magically change the nature of social media or gaming discourse, they do offer a grounded perspective. He did, however, share his thoughts about another title: “That being said…Satisfactory was 1000% snubbed and I’ll be voicing that opinion ad nauseam at The Game Awards in person.” It’s nice to see some passionate advocacy!
While all this clamoring surrounding nominations unfolds, Pocketpair, the developer behind Palworld, has bigger battles to fight. Earlier in September, Nintendo launched a lawsuit against them, citing patent infringement—a twist few saw coming. Pocketpair addressed this issue at the beginning of this month, sharing details about the patents under dispute and asserting their determination to stand their ground in upcoming legal proceedings.
Overall, while the absence from The Game Awards might sting for Palworld’s fanbase, the developer’s focus seems firmly set on clearing legal hurdles and possibly delivering more of the unconventional gameplay that has captured so many imaginations.
