'Similar Art Styles Make the Comparisons Inevitable' — Palworld and Pokémon Fans Are Arguing Over Whether New Whale Pal Panthalus Copies Kyogre

Palworld and Pokémon fans are arguing implicit whether a caller whale Pal called Panthalus copies the Pokémon, Kyogre.

Palworld carnal Panthalus is simply a monolithic legendary blue-green whale with a achromatic belly, flared fins and tribal-like markings crossed its body, positive a ample bronze decoration. Beloved Pokémon Kyogre, meanwhile, is simply a legendary bluish whale with a achromatic belly, flared fins and tribal markings crossed its body, with nary bronze decoration.

Writing connected societal media, immoderate fans person said that the plan of Panthalus is "clearly inspired" by Kyogre, adjacent if the conception of a mythical whale is not unsocial to Pokémon. One instrumentality dubbed the plan arsenic "brazen," though others said it looked "legally distinct" enough.

"I consciousness similar the akin creation styles marque the comparisons inevitable," tweeted video crippled contented creator Josh Scorcher. "Like, Game Freak doesn't ain the conception of a legendary/divine whale creature... But you person to beryllium incredibly dishonest to not instantly deliberation of Kyogre erstwhile you spot this."

Others, however, person dismissed the comparison. "Literally the lone happening they person successful communal is that they're some whales," 1 instrumentality said. "Panthalus looks NOTHING similar Kyorge," different added. "Concept is there, but I tin easy visually separate them."

oh my deity the radical saying panthalus doesnt adjacent RESEMBLE kyogre are coping truthful unbelievably hard bro pic.twitter.com/1Ph4IJR39Q

— Decaticon (@Decaticon) July 14, 2026

This pal is intelligibly inspired by Kyogre which isn't inherently a atrocious thing. However due to the fact that palworld creatures are mostly inspired by pokemon it makes their designs consciousness beauteous uninspired. Palworld's designs would greatly payment from taking much inspiration extracurricular of pokemon https://t.co/FvnG2JLucX pic.twitter.com/dA5Jv0waP9

— doodlelotl (@Doodlelot) July 14, 2026 — PokéTen @Eurofurence 30 (@poketen_) July 15, 2026

Panthalus' instauration comes conscionable arsenic fans discovered that respective different Pal taxon person softly had their designs changed successful Palworld's large 1.0 update. Despite hundreds of different additions and tweaks being listed successful developer Pocketpair's spot notes, determination was curiously nary notation of alterations to Verdash, Robinquill, Fengallop, and Grintale, which antecedently displayed much chiseled similarities to acquainted Pokémon taxon Cinderace, Decidueye, Cobalion, and Galarian Meowth.

IGN contacted Pocketpair for remark astir these changes, but received nary response.

Comparisons betwixt Palworld's Pal designs and Pokémon are thing new, of course, and fans person been pointing retired similarities betwixt taxon since earlier Palworld's archetypal launch, erstwhile galore accused Pocketpair of "ripping off" Pokémon designs.

And of course, each of this comes amid the ongoing ineligible conflict betwixt The Pokémon Company and Pocketpair implicit the usage of patents, which seemingly prompted the second to marque gameplay changes successful bid to nullify its claims. A judgement is expected aboriginal this year.

Palworld's 1.0 motorboat landed earlier this month, yet bringing the crippled retired of aboriginal access. Pocketpair said astatine the clip that it would not rise the game's terms beyond $29.99 arsenic Palworld has "become a occurrence beyond our wildest dreams." That connection apt reflects the information that much than 40 cardinal players person dipped their paws into Palworld since its aboriginal entree launch.

Our Palworld Interactive Map has been updated for 1.0, including Watchtower Locations, truthful you tin marque definite to uncover everything new. We’ve besides got a usher to 1.0 Pal Breeding Combos and How to Get Hardwood, positive the Best 1.0 Mounts to Catch successful Order, and the Fastest Flying Mounts successful 1.0.

Image: Decation/X.

Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You tin scope Tom astatine [email protected] oregon find him connected Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social