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

Palworld's Stunning Success: Pocketpair Chooses Indie Path Over AAA Expansion

Pocketpair, the developer behind the wildly successful Palworld, has amassed substantial profits, potentially enough to create a game exceeding even AAA standards. However, CEO Takuro Mizobe has confirmed the studio's intention to remain firmly in the indie space. Let's delve into his reasoning.

Pocketpair Prioritizes Indie Development and Community Support

Palworld's financial success is undeniable, with sales reaching "tens of billions of yen" (equivalent to tens of millions of USD). Despite this windfall, Mizobe believes Pocketpair lacks the structure and experience to handle a project of such immense scale.

Mizobe clarified that Palworld's development was funded by profits from previous titles, Craftopia and Overdungeon. This time, however, the company is choosing a different approach.

“Scaling our next game using these profits would push us beyond AAA, a scale we're simply not prepared for organizationally,” Mizobe explained in a recent GameSpark interview. He prefers focusing on projects that are “interesting as indie games,” emphasizing a continued commitment to smaller-scale development.

Mizobe highlighted the challenges of AAA game development, including the difficulty of creating a hit with a large team, while contrasting this with the flourishing indie scene and its improved game engines and market conditions. He attributes Pocketpair's growth to the indie community and wants to give back.

Expanding the Palworld Universe Through Diverse Media

Mizobe previously stated that Pocketpair won't be expanding its team or upgrading its offices. Instead, the focus is on expanding the Palworld IP through various media.

Palworld, currently in early access, has garnered significant praise for its engaging gameplay and consistent updates, including the recent PvP arena and the Sakurajima island expansion. The studio's collaboration with Sony, forming Palworld Entertainment, will manage global licensing and merchandising.