When you think of Palworld, the immediate association for many is "Pokemon with guns," a phrase that has stuck since the game's initial surge in popularity. This shorthand, while catchy and easy to understand, doesn't fully capture the essence of what Pocketpair, the game's developer, intended. According to John 'Bucky' Buckley, Pocketpair's communications director and publishing manager, the "Pokemon with guns" label was never the goal. Speaking at the Game Developers Conference, Buckley shared that the game was first revealed in June 2021 at Indie Live Expo in Japan, where it received a warm reception. However, the Western media quickly branded it as a certain franchise (Pokemon) combined with guns, a tag that has persisted despite efforts to move away from it.
In an interview following his talk, Buckley elaborated on the game's true inspiration. He explained that the development team, while fans of Pokemon, drew more from ARK: Survival Evolved. The team's previous game, Craftopia, also reflected their love for ARK's elements. The pitch for Palworld was to create a game similar to ARK but with a stronger focus on automation and unique creature abilities, giving each creature more personality and distinctiveness.
Despite the mislabeling, Buckley acknowledges that the "Pokemon with guns" phrase did contribute significantly to Palworld's success. Even Dave Oshry from New Blood Interactive trademarked "Pokemonwithguns.com," which added to the viral spread of the game. However, Buckley expressed frustration that some people still think Palworld is exactly what the label suggests without giving the game a proper chance.
Buckley also doesn't see Pokemon as a direct competitor, emphasizing that the audiences for the two games don't significantly overlap. Instead, he views ARK as a closer parallel. He dismissed the notion of competition in the gaming industry as largely manufactured, suggesting that the real challenge is timing game releases rather than competing against specific titles. This perspective extends to games like Helldivers 2, which saw a notable crossover in players with Palworld.
If Buckley had his way, he would have preferred a different viral tagline for Palworld, something like "Palworld: It's Kind of Like ARK if ARK Met Factorio and Happy Tree Friends." While this description might not be as catchy, it better reflects the game's actual inspirations and mechanics.
In our broader interview, Buckley and I also discussed the potential for Palworld on the Nintendo Switch 2, the possibility of Pocketpair being acquired, and more. You can read the full discussion for further insights into the game's future and the company's plans.
