Palworld Devs Reject 'Pokemon With Guns' Label

When you think of Palworld, the phrase that often springs to mind is "Pokemon with guns." This catchy yet reductive label surged into prominence when the game first gained widespread attention, largely due to the internet's shorthand for describing its unique blend of creature collection and weaponry. Even reputable sources like IGN, along with many others, have used this phrase to quickly convey the game's concept to newcomers.

However, John 'Bucky' Buckley, the communications director and publishing manager at Pocketpair, has expressed that the team behind Palworld does not particularly embrace this moniker. During a talk at the Game Developers Conference, Buckley recounted how the game was initially revealed in June 2021 at the Indie Live Expo in Japan, receiving a warm reception from the local audience. But it was the Western media's quick branding of Palworld as a "certain franchise plus guns" that has lingered, despite efforts to distance the game from this image.

In a follow-up interview, Buckley clarified that Pokemon was never the core inspiration for Palworld. While acknowledging the team's fondness for the Pokemon series, he emphasized that their true aim was to emulate the survival and automation aspects of ARK: Survival Evolved. He noted that their previous game, Craftopia, drew heavily from ARK, and Palworld sought to expand on these elements by giving creatures more personality and unique abilities, much like ARK's dinosaurs but with a twist of automation inspired by games like Factorio.

Buckley admitted that the "Pokemon with guns" label did play a significant role in Palworld's initial popularity surge. He cited an instance where Dave Oshry from New Blood Interactive trademarked "Pokemonwithguns.com," further fueling the game's viral spread. While Buckley accepts the label as a part of the game's history, he hopes that players will experience Palworld firsthand before forming their opinions, as the gameplay diverges significantly from the Pokemon comparison.

Interestingly, Buckley does not view Pokemon as a direct competitor to Palworld, believing that their audiences do not significantly overlap. He sees ARK as a closer parallel but maintains that Palworld is not in direct competition with any specific game, not even with titles like Helldivers 2, despite a notable overlap in their player bases. Buckley critiqued the notion of competition in the gaming industry, suggesting it is often a manufactured concept for marketing purposes, and emphasized that timing of releases is a more significant factor than direct competition.

If given the chance to reframe the game's viral tagline, Buckley humorously suggested "Palworld: It's Kind of Like ARK if ARK Met Factorio and Happy Tree Friends," acknowledging that it might not be as catchy but more accurately reflects the game's essence.

In our broader discussion, Buckley also touched on the potential of Palworld coming to the Nintendo Switch 2, the possibility of Pocketpair being acquired, and more. You can delve into the full interview for further insights.