Palworld's phenomenal success has fueled speculation about developer Pocketpair's next move. Could their massive profits propel their next game beyond even AAA standards? CEO Takuro Mizobe offers a surprising answer.
Palworld's Profits: A Beyond-AAA Potential?
Pocketpair's Focus: Indie Spirit and Community Support
The creature-catching survival game Palworld has been a massive hit for Pocketpair, generating tens of billions of yen (tens of millions of USD). This windfall could easily fund a game eclipsing even the largest AAA titles. However, CEO Takuro Mizobe has reiterated his company's commitment to a different path.
In a recent GameSpark interview, Mizobe confirmed Palworld's impressive sales figures. Despite this success, he believes Pocketpair isn't yet structured to handle a project of that magnitude. Palworld's development was funded by profits from previous titles, Craftopia and Overdungeon. While the current situation offers a chance to create something truly massive, Mizobe feels it's premature for Pocketpair.
"Developing our next game with these proceeds would create a project beyond AAA scale," Mizobe explained. "But our organizational maturity isn't suited for that. We simply aren't structured for it." He prefers to focus on projects that thrive as indie games, believing that's where their strengths lie.
The studio aims for ambitious projects within a smaller, indie framework. Mizobe highlighted the challenges facing large AAA teams, contrasting them with the flourishing indie scene. Improved game engines and industry conditions now allow for global success without massive teams. Pocketpair attributes much of its growth to the indie community and aims to give back.
Palworld's Future: Expanding Beyond the Game
Mizobe previously stated that Pocketpair won't be expanding its team or upgrading offices. Instead, the focus is on expanding the Palworld IP through various mediums.
Even in early access, Palworld has garnered significant praise for its gameplay and substantial updates. Recent additions include a highly anticipated PvP arena and a new island in the Sakurajima update. Furthermore, Pocketpair has established Palworld Entertainment with Sony to manage global licensing and merchandising.
