Palworld Defies Classification, Transcending AAA Expectations

Palworld's phenomenal success has positioned Pocketpair for potential "beyond AAA" projects. However, CEO Takuro Mizobe reveals a different strategic direction for the studio.

Pocketpair's Indie Focus: A Calculated Choice

The creature-catching survival game, Palworld, has generated tens of billions of yen in revenue for Pocketpair. While this success could fund a massive, AAA-scale project, Mizobe clarifies that Pocketpair isn't equipped to handle such an undertaking.

In a GameSpark interview, Mizobe highlighted Palworld's development, funded by previous titles, Craftopia and Overdungeon. Despite the substantial profits, he emphasizes Pocketpair's current organizational structure isn't suited for a project of that magnitude.

"Developing our next game with these proceeds would create a project exceeding AAA scale, a scale we're not structurally prepared for," Mizobe explained. He prefers projects aligning with the "interesting indie game" model, prioritizing manageable scale and creative freedom.

Mizobe points to the challenges of AAA development, contrasting them with the flourishing indie scene. He credits improved game engines and industry conditions for enabling global indie success without massive teams. Pocketpair's growth is attributed to the indie community, and the company aims to reciprocate this support.

Expanding the Palworld Universe

Mizobe previously stated that Pocketpair won't expand its team or upgrade its offices, instead focusing on diversifying the Palworld IP.

Palworld, currently in early access, has garnered praise for its gameplay and consistent updates, including a PvP arena and the Sakurajima island update. Furthermore, Pocketpair established Palworld Entertainment with Sony to manage global licensing and merchandising.