Palworld Won't Answer the Question 'What's Beyond AAA?'

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

Pocketpair, the developer behind the wildly successful Palworld, has amassed significant profits, potentially enabling them to create a game surpassing even AAA titles. However, CEO Takuro Mizobe has revealed a different vision for the studio's future.

Pocketpair: Embracing the Indie Ethos

Palworld's phenomenal success has generated tens of billions of yen in revenue (tens of millions of USD). Despite this windfall, Mizobe clarified that Pocketpair isn't geared towards managing a project of that magnitude. He explained that Palworld's development was funded by profits from previous titles, Craftopia and Overdungeon. This time, however, he's choosing a different route.

In a GameSpark interview, Mizobe stated that scaling up to a "beyond AAA" project wouldn't align with the company's current structure. He expressed a preference for projects that resonate with the indie gaming spirit, rather than pursuing massive budget titles. The focus remains on exploring the potential of smaller-scale development.

"We wouldn't be able to keep up with a project beyond AAA in terms of our organization's maturity," Mizobe explained. He emphasized the challenges of AAA development, particularly the difficulty in creating a hit title with a large team, contrasting it with the thriving indie scene, where improved engines and industry conditions allow for global success on a smaller scale. Pocketpair's growth is attributed to the indie community, and the company aims to reciprocate that support.

Expanding the Palworld Universe

Mizobe previously stated that Pocketpair isn't interested in expanding its team or upgrading its facilities. Instead, the strategy is to expand the Palworld IP into other mediums.

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