When you think of Palworld, the immediate association many make is "Pokemon with guns," a label that has stuck despite the intentions of its creators at Pocketpair. This catchy but reductive phrase surged in popularity when the game first hit the scene, propelling Palworld into the spotlight thanks to the intriguing juxtaposition of two contrasting concepts. Even IGN, like many others, used this shorthand to describe the game, making it easier for newcomers to grasp the idea quickly.
However, according to John 'Bucky' Buckley, Pocketpair's communications director and publishing manager, this moniker was never the intended takeaway. Speaking at the Game Developers Conference, Buckley expressed that Pocketpair doesn't particularly love the "Pokemon with guns" label. The game was first revealed in June 2021 at Indie Live Expo in Japan and received a warm reception there. But it was the Western media that quickly branded it as a certain franchise (Pokemon) plus guns, a label that has persisted despite efforts to move away from it.
In a subsequent interview, Buckley elaborated that Pokemon was never part of the initial pitch. Instead, the team, composed of ARK: Survival Evolved fans, drew inspiration from that game and their previous title, Craftopia. The goal was to create a game that expanded on ARK's concepts, focusing heavily on automation and giving each creature unique personalities and abilities. Buckley acknowledged that the "Pokemon with guns" label did contribute to Palworld's success, even noting humorous actions like Dave Oshry from New Blood Interactive trademarking "Pokemonwithguns.com."
Yet, Buckley emphasized that this label doesn't accurately reflect the gameplay experience. He believes that while the phrase can be used as a shorthand, it's important for players to experience the game firsthand before forming judgments. He also doesn't see Pokemon as a direct competitor, citing a different audience overlap and pointing to ARK as a closer parallel. Buckley even downplayed the notion of competition in the gaming industry, suggesting that it's more about timing than direct rivalry.
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." He acknowledged, though, that it's not as catchy.
In our full interview, Buckley and I also discussed potential future developments, such as a possible release on the Nintendo Switch 2 and the prospects of Pocketpair being acquired, among other topics. You can dive deeper into our conversation here.
