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

Palworld's Unexpected Path: From Massive Success to Indie Focus

Pocketpair, the developer behind the wildly successful Palworld, has amassed significant profits, potentially enough to create a game exceeding AAA standards. However, CEO Takuro Mizobe has revealed a different strategic direction for the studio. This article delves into his reasoning.

Pocketpair Prioritizes Indie Development and Community Support

Palworld's phenomenal success has generated tens of billions of yen in revenue (tens of millions of USD). Despite this windfall, Mizobe stated in a GameSpark interview that Pocketpair isn't equipped to handle a project of that magnitude. He explained that Palworld's development was funded by profits from previous titles, Craftopia and Overdungeon. This time, however, the scale of potential projects is daunting.

Mizobe emphasized that undertaking a "beyond AAA" project would strain the company's structure. He prefers to maintain a smaller, indie-focused approach, believing the current indie game environment, with improved engines and market conditions, offers a more viable path to global success than the increasingly challenging AAA landscape. Pocketpair's growth is attributed to the indie community, and the company aims to reciprocate this support.

Palworld's Expansion into New Avenues

Mizobe previously stated that Pocketpair isn't interested in expanding its team or upgrading its facilities. Instead, the focus is on expanding the Palworld IP through various mediums. The early access title has already received praise for its engaging gameplay and regular updates, including a PvP arena and the Sakurajima island update. Furthermore, a partnership with Sony has established Palworld Entertainment for global licensing and merchandising.