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

Palworld's Unexpected Path: Pocketpair CEO Rejects AAA Status Despite Massive Success

The phenomenal success of Palworld has catapulted developer Pocketpair into a position where its next project could easily surpass AAA game standards. However, CEO Takuro Mizobe has once again affirmed the company's commitment to a different path.

Pocketpair: Embracing the Indie Landscape

Palworld's profits, revealed to be "in the tens of billions of yen" (tens of millions of USD), could easily fund a massive AAA title. Yet, Mizobe emphasizes that Pocketpair isn't structured for such an undertaking. The studio's previous successes, Craftopia and Overdungeon, financed Palworld's development, but Mizobe believes scaling to AAA would strain their current organizational capabilities.

In a GameSpark interview, Mizobe stated that pursuing a AAA-scale project now would be premature. He prefers focusing on projects that resonate with the indie gaming ethos. He sees advantages in the indie scene's current landscape, including improved game engines and a more accessible global market. Pocketpair's growth is largely attributed to the indie community, and the company aims to give back.

"We wouldn't be able to keep up with the scale of a beyond-AAA game," Mizobe explained, highlighting the challenges of managing a large team in the current AAA market. The indie approach, he argues, allows for greater agility and innovation.

Expanding the Palworld Universe

Instead of expanding its team or upgrading facilities, Pocketpair is prioritizing diversification of the Palworld IP. This includes exploring various media formats beyond the game itself.

Palworld's early access phase has been marked by positive player reception and significant updates, including a PvP arena and the Sakurajima island expansion. Furthermore, Pocketpair has partnered with Sony to form Palworld Entertainment, focusing on global licensing and merchandising. The future of Pocketpair, it seems, lies not in chasing AAA status, but in creatively expanding its existing successful IP and nurturing its indie roots.