When you think of Palworld, the immediate association for many is "Pokemon with guns." This shorthand became popular when the game first gained traction, likely boosting its visibility due to the intriguing mix of concepts. Even we at IGN have used this phrase, as have many others, making it a convenient way for newcomers to grasp the game's premise.
However, according to Pocketpair's communications director and publishing manager, John 'Bucky' Buckley, this label was never the intended takeaway. Speaking at the Game Developers Conference, Buckley expressed that Pocketpair does not particularly love the moniker. He recounted the game's initial reveal at the Indie Live Expo in Japan in June 2021, where it received a warm reception before quickly being branded by Western media as a mix of a "certain franchise" and guns—a label that has stuck despite efforts to shake it off.
In a follow-up interview, Buckley clarified that Pokemon was not part of the original pitch for Palworld. While the development team includes fans of Pokemon, the game's inspiration drew more from ARK: Survival Evolved. He mentioned their previous game, Craftopia, and how it incorporated elements from ARK, aiming to expand on these ideas. The goal was to create a game where creatures had more personality and unique abilities, focusing on automation and individuality akin to ARK, but with a twist.
Buckley acknowledged that the "Pokemon with guns" label did contribute to Palworld's success. He cited instances like Dave Oshry from New Blood Interactive trademarking 'Pokemonwithguns.com', which fueled the game's notoriety. However, he emphasized that the label does not accurately reflect the gameplay experience. He hopes players will give the game a chance before forming an opinion based solely on the tagline.
Moreover, Buckley does not see Pokemon as a direct competitor to Palworld, suggesting that the audiences for the two games do not significantly overlap. He views ARK as a closer comparison and believes that the notion of competition in gaming is often exaggerated for marketing purposes. He argues that with the vast number of games available, competition is more about timing than direct rivalry, even with games like Helldivers 2, which many Palworld players also purchased.
If Buckley could choose a different viral tagline, he suggested something like, "Palworld: It's Kind of Like ARK if ARK Met Factorio and Happy Tree Friends." He admits, though, that it doesn't have the same catchy appeal as "Pokemon with guns."
In our 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 here.
