'They Really Are Going the Pokémon Route' — Palworld Is Getting an Official Trading Card Game

Pocketpair has made the surprise announcement of an official Palworld Trading Card Game, due out this summer.

Pocketpair has partnered with Japanese TCG specialist Bushiroad for Palworld Official Trading Card Game, which has a July 30, 2026 release date. The teaser trailer is below.

Here’s the official blurb:

This game is a 2-player competitive card game where you can enjoy strategic and tactical battles through deploying various unique Pals. Players fight alongside their Pal companions, gathering resources, and building bases as they aim for victory. These adorable and dependable Pals will utilize their own unique traits to lead you to victory. Team up with your trusty Pals and experience the thrill of overcoming formidable enemies through this exciting trading card game.

As you’d expect, the announcement has sparked further comparisons between Palworld and Pokémon, which has a hugely popular trading card game of its own. “They really are going the Pokémon route and merchandising everything,” said one fan. “Palworld anime when?” added another. “Nintendo: heavy breathing,” said one YouTube commenter. “NOW THEY JUST TROLLING!!!!” laughed one fan.

In September, Pocketpair announced Palworld: Palfarm, a farming and crafting spinoff that was revealed just a week after Nintendo revealed cozy farming sim Pokémon Pokopia. Pocketpair ended up issuing a response after some Pokémon fans questioned the timing of the Palworld: Palfarm announcement.

Pocketpair has certainly moved quickly to capitalize on Palworld’s explosive success. (In March 2024, Pocketpair boss Takuro Mizobe said the company couldn’t handle the massive profits the game had generated.) While working on its 1.0 release, the Japanese studio is developing Palfarm, working on this new Palworld TCG, running a publishing studio of its own, and it has its other game, Craftopia to update.

Pocketpair is of course embroiled in a high-profile patent battle with Nintendo and The Pokémon Company over Palworld, which is expected to progress this year. The Nintendo-Palworld lawsuit, which has been ongoing in Japan since its announcement in September 2024, involves three patents, two related to monster capture and release, and one related to riding characters. For more details, check out IGN’s coverage of the lawsuit, including why Nintendo re-wrote patents mid-case and Nintendo’s recent move to discount mods as "prior art." All the while, Nintendo has been busy obtaining patents — some of which IP lawyers said should never have been granted — as it develops its case against Pocketpair, which has vowed to defend itself in court.

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at [email protected] or confidentially at [email protected].