Palworld: AAA Gaming Question Left Unanswered

Palworld's Stunning Success: Pocketpair CEO Rejects "Beyond AAA" Path

Pocketpair, the developer behind the wildly popular Palworld, has achieved remarkable financial success. The game's profits are so substantial that the studio could easily create a game exceeding even "AAA" standards. However, CEO Takuro Mizobe has once again confirmed their intention to steer clear of such large-scale projects.

Pocketpair Prioritizes Indie Development and Community Support

Palworld's revenue is in the "tens of billions of yen" (tens of millions of USD), a testament to its popularity. Despite this windfall, Mizobe believes Pocketpair lacks the structure and experience to handle a project of that magnitude.

Mizobe explained that Palworld's development was funded by profits from previous titles, Craftopia and Overdungeon. This time, however, the massive budget presents a different scenario. He feels it's premature for Pocketpair to undertake a project of this scale.

“A game developed with these proceeds would far surpass AAA in scale, but our organization isn't ready for that level of complexity,” Mizobe stated in a GameSpark interview. He prefers projects that resonate with the indie gaming spirit, believing the current AAA landscape is too challenging for a company of their size. He sees a vibrant indie scene, empowered by advanced game engines and favorable industry conditions, as the ideal environment for their continued growth. Pocketpair attributes much of its success to the indie community and wants to continue contributing to it.

Expanding the Palworld Universe

Mizobe previously stated that Pocketpair won't be expanding its team or upgrading offices. Instead, the focus is on expanding the Palworld IP into various media.

Palworld, currently in early access, has garnered significant praise for its gameplay and consistent updates, including a PvP arena and the recent Sakurajima island addition. Further solidifying its commitment to Palworld, Pocketpair has partnered with Sony to establish Palworld Entertainment, handling global licensing and merchandising.