Palworld Devs Reject 'Pokemon With Guns' Label

When you think of Palworld, the immediate association many have is "Pokemon with guns," a label that surged with the game's initial popularity. This catchy phrase, although not the intention of its creators at Pocketpair, played a significant role in drawing attention to the game. As John 'Bucky' Buckley, Pocketpair's communications director and publishing manager, explained at the Game Developers Conference, the game was first showcased at the Indie Live Expo in Japan in June 2021. It received a warm reception there, but Western media quickly tagged it as a mix of a well-known franchise and firearms, a branding that stuck despite efforts to move beyond it.

In a follow-up interview, Buckley elaborated that Pokemon was never part of the core pitch for Palworld. Instead, the game drew inspiration from ARK: Survival Evolved, with the development team aiming to expand on the survival and automation elements while giving each creature unique personality and abilities. Buckley noted that while the "Pokemon with guns" label did boost the game's visibility, it also misrepresented the actual gameplay experience. He emphasized that Palworld is more akin to ARK, with elements of automation and creature diversity, rather than a direct competitor to Pokemon.

Buckley also dismissed the notion of direct competition in the gaming industry, suggesting that the concept of "console wars" is more a marketing construct than a reflection of real competition. He believes that the timing of game releases is a more significant factor than competing against specific titles, even noting that a notable portion of Palworld players also purchased Helldivers 2 upon its release.

If Buckley could choose a different viral tagline for Palworld, he humorously suggested, "Palworld: It's Kind of Like ARK if ARK Met Factorio and Happy Tree Friends," acknowledging that it's not as catchy but more reflective of the game's true nature.

In our extended discussion, Buckley touched on various other topics, including the potential for Palworld on the Nintendo Switch 2 and the possibility of Pocketpair being acquired. You can delve deeper into these subjects in our full interview.