Palworld: Uncharted Frontiers Beyond AAA

Palworld's Unexpected Path: Beyond AAA, or Beyond Expectations?

Pocketpair, the creators of the wildly successful Palworld, could easily leverage their massive profits to create a game exceeding even AAA standards. However, CEO Takuro Mizobe has a different vision. Let's delve into his intriguing perspective.

Pocketpair: Embracing the Indie Spirit

Palworld's phenomenal success has generated tens of billions of yen in revenue for Pocketpair—a figure exceeding $68 million USD. This windfall could fund a truly massive project. Yet, Mizobe has once again reiterated his preference for a different approach.

In a recent interview with GameSpark, Mizobe explained that while Palworld's financial success is undeniable, Pocketpair isn't structured to handle a project of such immense scale. Palworld itself was developed using profits from previous titles, Craftopia and Overdungeon. This time, however, Mizobe sees no need to immediately scale up.

"Developing our next game with these proceeds would create a project exceeding AAA standards," Mizobe stated, "but our current organizational structure isn't equipped to manage it." He clearly favors projects that resonate with the indie game ethos, rather than chasing blockbuster budgets.

The studio intends to explore the potential of the indie space, leveraging improved game engines and a more favorable industry climate. Mizobe highlights the challenges of AAA development, contrasting them with the thriving indie scene, which allows for global success without the need for massive teams. Pocketpair attributes much of its growth to the indie community and aims to give back.

Palworld's Expanding Universe

Earlier this year, Mizobe indicated that Pocketpair's plans don't involve expanding its team or upgrading to larger offices. Instead, their focus is on expanding the Palworld IP into diverse media.

Palworld, currently in early access, is already a critical and commercial success, thanks to its captivating gameplay and regular updates, including the highly anticipated PvP arena and the new Sakurajima island. Furthermore, Pocketpair has established Palworld Entertainment in partnership with Sony to manage global licensing and merchandising.