Palworld isn’t chasing Fortnite’s quick cash
The Palworld universe is poised for a significant expansion, with developer and publisher Pocketpair cooking up a trio of new concepts: a dating sim, a farming simulator, and an MMO. But rather than simply folding these elements into an extension of the main game, the team is firmly resisting the urge to replicate the metaverse structure popularized by titles like Fortnite.
At the heart of this creative divergence is a philosophy that prioritizes fun and unique design over rapid revenue generation. John ‘Bucky’ Buckley, head of publishing and communications at Pocketpair, makes it clear that the team’s creative decisions are not driven by the desire to maximize profits as quickly as possible.
“We just want to make fun games in our own way,” Buckley explains. He acknowledges that the success of Palworld has provided ample opportunity for crossovers and microtransactions, but he asserts that the most crucial factor remains simply enjoying the monster-collecting experience itself.
This commitment to creative autonomy extends to the scope of their new projects. Instead of trying to shoehorn new experiences into the existing framework of Palworld, Pocketpair is exploring turning these ideas into entirely standalone games.
One such project is Palfarm, a farming simulator that is envisioned as a completely distinct experience. This approach allows the developers to fully design the gameplay systems, pacing, and overall identity of each concept without compromise.
“Making something standalone gives it more room to develop its own identity and become something special in its own right,” Buckley notes. This strategy allows disparate IPs to benefit from different development paths, rather than being tied to a single, homogenized platform.
The resistance to a standardized model is proving to be a refreshing strength for the studio. By allowing these concepts to exist separately, Pocketpair ensures that if one venture were to fade, others are there to keep the overall property vibrant.
This dedication to independence is further underscored by the team’s stance on their ownership. Despite the astronomical success of Palworld, Pocketpair remains completely self-owned and self-funded. Their entire decision-making process boils down to a simple, core question: “is it fun?” And based on the direction they are taking, it is certainly working.
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