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

Pocketpair, the developer behind the popular game Palworld, has ventured into the publishing industry with the launch of Pocketpair Publishing. The new division announced its first project: a brand new horror game developed by Surgent Studios, the team behind last year's debut title, Tales of Kenzera: Zau. This upcoming horror game will not be connected to the Tales of Kenzera universe, marking a fresh start for Surgent Studios.

Surgent Studios CEO Abubakar Salim expressed excitement about the project, noting that it reflects a pattern they've observed in the entertainment industry. "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 stated. He also mentioned ongoing discussions about future projects within the Tales of Kenzera universe, but emphasized that this horror game will stand alone as a significant milestone in their journey.

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

Pocketpair Publishing is now open to pitches from other developers, emphasizing a non-intrusive 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, shared the company's passion for games and their goal to support developers. "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 explained. He highlighted their excitement in supporting Surgent Studios' new title as their first step, respecting the autonomy and vision of developers to create great games for a global audience.

Abubakar Salim, who also stars in various roles such as the protagonist Bayek in Assassin's Creed Origins, Alyn of Hull in House of the Dragon, and the titular character in Tales of Kenzera: Zau, expressed his honor in being Pocketpair Publishing's inaugural partner. "This is the energy I want to see driving games in 2025," he said on X/Twitter, "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 in IGN's review. "Tales of Kenzera: Zau's action isn't groundbreaking within the genre, but it's elevated by a truly moving tale about how to go on in this world when your loved ones have passed on to the next," the review noted. Despite its positive reception, Surgent Studios faced challenges, announcing layoffs in July and redundancy notices in October due to funding struggles. The support from Pocketpair Publishing could be a crucial lifeline for the studio.

Meanwhile, Pocketpair continues to navigate a patent infringement lawsuit filed by The Pokémon Company and Nintendo, following the record-breaking sales success of Palworld.