Palworld CEO Rejects Acquisition: 'Never Allow It,' Says Communications Director

Last summer, Palworld developer Pocketpair entered into an agreement with Sony Music Entertainment to expand the Palworld universe into merchandise, music, and other products. This business deal sparked rumors among fans, who misinterpreted it as a precursor to an acquisition, especially following earlier rumors that Pocketpair was in talks with Microsoft for a buyout.

Pocketpair CEO Takuro Mizobe later clarified that the acquisition rumors were unfounded, yet they fueled ongoing discussions and speculation about the company's future, particularly given Microsoft's aggressive acquisition strategy in the gaming industry and Sony's competitive responses.

As for the possibility of Pocketpair being acquired, the likelihood seems slim. At the Game Developers Conference last month, communications director and publishing manager John 'Bucky' Buckley firmly stated that an acquisition is highly unlikely under the current leadership. He emphasized, "Our CEO would never allow it. He likes doing his own thing and being his own boss. He doesn't like people telling him what to do."

Buckley's sentiments were strong: "So I would be shocked. Maybe when he's old, and he might just sell it off for money. And that would be sad, but in my lifetime, I probably won't see it. No, it'll be interesting to see where the two paths go. We, Pocketpair, are obviously only involved in where the game path is going. Palworld as an IP, we are involved, but it’s very much in the hands of Aniplex and Sony Music who are steering that ship right now. We are just offering our advice and thoughts as they take that."

In our interview, Buckley and I also discussed the potential of Palworld coming to the Nintendo Switch 2, the studio's response to the game being dubbed "Pokemon with guns," and more. You can delve into the full conversation right here.