Pocketpair Ventures into Publishing with Tales of Kenzera Dev's Next Release

Pocketpair, the developer behind the hit game Palworld, is branching out into the publishing arena with its new venture, Pocketpair Publishing. The company has announced its first project as a publisher: a new horror game from Surgent Studios, the team behind the debut title Tales of Kenzera: Zau, released in April of last year. This upcoming horror game will not be a continuation of the Tales of Kenzera universe but a standalone project.

Surgent Studios' CEO Abubakar Salim expressed excitement about this new venture, stating, "We noticed a pattern in the entertainment industry, and Pocketpair has given us the opportunity to make a horror game about it. Both Surgent and Pocketpair are well versed in taking risks. This game will be short and weird, and we think players will be interested in what we have to say." Salim also mentioned ongoing discussions about further projects in the Tales of Kenzera universe, indicating that the horror game is a significant milestone for the studio.

No specific release window or title has been announced for the horror game, suggesting it's still in the early stages of development. This project is also distinct from the previously announced Project Uso concept by Surgent Studios.

Pocketpair Publishing is now open to pitches from other developers, emphasizing a hands-off approach. "We don't want to tell you what to do. We don’t want to take control from you. We don’t want to change your dream or push you to make a certain type of game," they stated on their website. John Buckley, Head of Pocketpair Publishing, added, "At Pocketpair, there is nothing we love more than games, and Pocketpair Publishing is our latest venture to help the world enjoy gaming even more. Game development comes with many challenges, but we want to ease that process as much as possible and provide an environment where creators can pursue their dreams."

Buckley expressed enthusiasm for supporting Surgent Studios' new title, saying, "We are pleased to be able to support Surgent Studios’ new title as our first step. We deeply sympathize with their original ideas and passion and are honored to help them realize their vision. We will respect the autonomy and vision of developers and work together to make great games for people all over the world."

Abubakar Salim, who has also made a name for himself as an actor, playing roles such as Bayek in Assassin's Creed Origins and Alyn of Hull in House of the Dragon, shared his gratitude on X/Twitter, saying, "It's an incredible honor to be Pocketpair Publishing's first partner. This is the energy I want to see driving games in 2025: developers lifting each other up, creating together, and pushing the industry forward."

Tales of Kenzera: Zau, a single-player Metroidvania game that delves into themes of grief and love, received a 7/10 from IGN, with the review highlighting its emotional depth despite not revolutionizing the genre. However, despite its positive reception, Surgent Studios faced financial difficulties, announcing layoffs in July and further redundancies in October. The support from Pocketpair Publishing could be crucial for the studio's future.

Meanwhile, Pocketpair continues to navigate legal challenges from The Pokémon Company and Nintendo over a patent infringement lawsuit following Palworld's record-breaking sales.