Palworld's Director Clarifies AI Controversy and Misunderstandings

During the recent Game Developers Conference (GDC), we had the opportunity to sit down with John "Bucky" Buckley, the communications director and publishing manager for Palworld developer Pocketpair. Following his insightful talk titled 'Community Management Summit: A Palworld Roller Coaster: Surviving the Drop,' Buckley shared candid details about the challenges and triumphs faced by Palworld, including allegations of using generative AI and accusations of copying Pokémon models for their Pals. He also touched on the unexpected lawsuit from Nintendo regarding patent infringement, describing it as a "shock" to the studio.

Given the depth of our conversation with Buckley, we decided to publish the full extended interview here. For those looking for shorter, focused insights, you can read about Buckley's thoughts on the potential release of Palworld on the Nintendo Switch 2, the studio's response to being dubbed "Pokémon with guns," and the possibility of Pocketpair being acquired at the following links.

This interview has been lightly edited for clarity:

IGN: I'm going to start with the question that I know you can't fully answer. You mentioned the lawsuit briefly in your GDC talk. Has that lawsuit made it harder for Pocketpair to move forward and update the game?

John Buckley: No, it hasn't made it harder to update the game or move forward. It's more of a constant concern that weighs on us, affecting morale more than anything else. It hasn't impacted development directly, but it does require legal attention at the top levels of the company.

IGN: I was fascinated by your take on the 'Pokémon with guns' moniker during your talk. It seemed like you weren't fond of it. Why is that?

Buckley: Many assume that was our initial goal, but it wasn't. Our inspiration was more aligned with ARK: Survival Evolved, aiming for more automation and unique creature personalities. When the 'Pokémon with guns' label emerged after our first trailer, we weren't thrilled, but it's become part of the narrative.

IGN: You mentioned not understanding why Palworld took off so dramatically. Was the 'Pokémon with guns' label a significant factor in that?

Buckley: It definitely played a role. The label caught fire, but what bothers us is when people believe that's all the game is. We'd prefer if players gave it a chance before forming opinions.

IGN: How would you have described Palworld if you could choose its moniker?

Buckley: Perhaps something like, "Palworld: It's kind of like ARK if ARK met Factorio and Happy Tree Friends." It's not as catchy, though.

IGN: You also addressed the criticism of Palworld being labeled as AI-generated content. How did that impact your team internally?

Buckley: It was a significant blow, especially for our artists. The accusations were baseless and very upsetting, particularly for our Pal concept artists. We tried to counter this by releasing an art book, but it didn't fully dispel the rumors. Many of our artists, particularly our female artists in Japan, prefer to stay out of the public eye, complicating our efforts to refute these claims.

IGN: How do you view the state of online gaming communities today? Is social media still useful for you?

Buckley: Social media remains crucial for us, especially since our games are popular in Asia where it's a vital communication tool. Online communities can be intense, and while we understand the emotions involved, the death threats we've received are particularly troubling and illogical.

IGN: Do you feel social media has gotten worse recently?

Buckley: There's a trend of people saying the opposite just to provoke reactions, which seems to be encouraged by social media algorithms. Luckily, Palworld has mostly avoided political and social controversies, dealing mainly with game-related feedback.

IGN: You mentioned that most of the backlash came from Western audiences. Why do you think that was?

Buckley: It's a mystery to us as well. In Japan, opinions about us are split, and we focus on the overseas market with a Japanese flair. The heat from the West might have been due to the timing and the nature of the criticisms, which have since subsided.

Palworld Screens

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IGN: Given Palworld's unexpected success, has it changed how the studio operates or your future plans?

Buckley: It's changed our future plans but not our studio culture. We've expanded our server team and are continuously hiring more developers and artists to speed up development. Our CEO wants to keep the company small, though we're now at 70 people.

IGN: Do you anticipate supporting Palworld for a long time?

Buckley: Absolutely. Palworld is here to stay, though its future form is uncertain. We're also committed to other projects like Craftopia and supporting our developers' individual initiatives while maintaining Palworld's momentum.

IGN: There's a misconception about your partnership with Sony. Can you clarify that?

Buckley: We're not owned by Sony. It's a common misunderstanding, but our CEO would never allow the studio to be acquired. He values independence and doing things his own way.

IGN: Given Pokémon's constant releases and media presence, do you see them as competition?

Buckley: Not really. Our audiences and game systems are quite different. We focus more on survival games like Nightingale and Enshrouded rather than direct competition with Pokémon. Competition in gaming is often exaggerated for marketing purposes.

IGN: Would you consider releasing Palworld on the Nintendo Switch?

Buckley: If we could make it work on the current Switch, we would, but it's a demanding game. We're waiting to see the specs of the Nintendo Switch 2, which could be a possibility if it's powerful enough.

IGN: What's your message to those who haven't played Palworld and might misunderstand it?

Buckley: I think many people who only know Palworld from the drama would be surprised if they played it. We're considering a demo to give people a chance to experience it firsthand. We're not as 'seedy and scummy' as some might think; we're just a dedicated team trying to protect our developers while creating great games.

2024 was an exceptional year for gaming, with Palworld being one of many unexpectedly successful titles. We hope to continue this success and keep delivering enjoyable experiences to our players.