When considering Palworld, the immediate association for many is "Pokemon with guns," a label that surged in popularity when the game first gained traction. This shorthand, used widely across the internet, including by us at IGN, encapsulated the game's unique blend of monster collecting and weaponry. However, according to John 'Bucky' Buckley, Pocketpair's communications director and publishing manager, this was never the intended focus of the game.
Buckley shared insights during a talk at the Game Developers Conference, reflecting on Palworld's initial reveal in June 2021 at the Indie Live Expo in Japan. The game received a warm reception from the Japanese audience, but soon caught the attention of Western media, quickly earning the "Pokemon with guns" moniker. Despite efforts to distance the game from this label, it has persisted.
In a follow-up interview, Buckley clarified that Pokemon was never part of the initial pitch. Instead, the development team, largely fans of ARK: Survival Evolved, drew inspiration from it. Their previous game, Craftopia, also reflected ARK's influence. The goal was to create a game with a focus on automation and creatures with unique personalities and abilities, much like ARK but with a twist.
Buckley acknowledged that the "Pokemon with guns" label did contribute to Palworld's success. Notably, Dave Oshry from New Blood Interactive even trademarked 'Pokemonwithguns.com,' amplifying the game's visibility. However, Buckley expressed frustration over the misconception that Palworld is simply a Pokemon clone with guns. He emphasized that the game offers a distinct experience and encouraged players to try it before forming judgments.
Interestingly, Buckley doesn't see Pokemon as a direct competitor, citing minimal audience overlap and pointing to ARK as a more relevant comparison. He also dismissed the notion of competition in the gaming industry as largely manufactured, emphasizing that the real challenge lies in timing game releases rather than competing with other titles directly.
If Buckley could choose a different viral tagline, he humorously suggested, "Palworld: It's Kind of Like ARK if ARK Met Factorio and Happy Tree Friends," acknowledging that it doesn't have the same catchy ring as "Pokemon with guns."
Our conversation also touched on potential future developments, such as the possibility of Palworld coming to the Nintendo Switch 2 and Pocketpair's stance on acquisition. You can explore these topics further in our full interview.
