When you think of Palworld, the phrase "Pokemon with guns" might immediately come to mind. This shorthand, used widely across the internet, significantly contributed to the game's initial surge in popularity due to its unique blend of seemingly disparate concepts. Even we at IGN have utilized this phrase, mirroring the trend set by others. It served as a quick and effective way to introduce the game to those unfamiliar with it.
However, according to John 'Bucky' Buckley, Pocketpair's communications director and publishing manager, the "Pokemon with guns" label was never the intended focus. During his talk at the Game Developers Conference last month, Buckley expressed that Pocketpair doesn't particularly love this moniker. He recounted the game's introduction to the world in June 2021 at the Indie Live Expo in Japan, where it received a warm reception from the local audience. Yet, soon after, Western media quickly branded it as a mix of a "certain franchise" and guns, a label that has stuck despite efforts to move beyond it.
In a follow-up interview, Buckley clarified that Pokemon was not part of the initial pitch for Palworld. While the development team includes Pokemon fans and acknowledges the game's monster-collecting similarities, their inspiration was more aligned with ARK: Survival Evolved. Buckley explained that many team members were avid ARK players, and their previous game, Craftopia, drew heavily from ARK's mechanics. The goal was to expand on ARK's concept, focusing on automation and giving each creature unique personality and abilities.
Buckley admitted that the "Pokemon with guns" label did play a role in Palworld's success. He noted that Dave Oshry from New Blood Interactive even trademarked "Pokemonwithguns.com," which further fueled the game's visibility. However, Buckley emphasized that the label can be misleading for those who haven't played the game, as Palworld's gameplay diverges significantly from the Pokemon experience. He encourages players to give the game a chance before forming opinions based solely on the label.
Buckley also believes that Palworld does not directly compete with Pokemon, citing a lack of significant audience crossover and again drawing parallels to ARK. He even mentioned that a "very significant" number of Palworld players also purchased Helldivers 2 upon its release, suggesting that competition in the gaming industry is often overstated. Buckley views the so-called "console wars" as manufactured for marketing purposes, arguing that the real challenge lies in timing releases amidst a crowded market.
If given the chance to redefine Palworld's viral tagline, Buckley suggested something like, "Palworld: It's Kind of Like ARK if ARK Met Factorio and Happy Tree Friends." He acknowledged that this doesn't have the same catchy appeal as "Pokemon with guns," but it more accurately reflects the game's true nature.
Buckley and I also discussed the potential of Palworld coming to the Nintendo Switch 2, the possibility of Pocketpair being acquired, and more during our interview. You can find the complete discussion here.
