Palworld Devs Reject 'Pokemon With Guns' Label

When you think of Palworld, the phrase "Pokemon with guns" likely springs to mind first. This catchy moniker has been a double-edged sword for the game, propelling it into the spotlight while also overshadowing its creators' original vision. The game, developed by Pocketpair, burst onto the scene and quickly gained traction, largely due to this intriguing and unconventional description. Even we at IGN, along with many others, have used this phrase to describe Palworld, highlighting the game's unique blend of monster-collecting and weaponry.

However, according to Pocketpair's communications director and publishing manager, John 'Bucky' Buckley, the "Pokemon with guns" label was never the intended takeaway. Speaking at the Game Developers Conference, Buckley expressed that the team doesn't particularly embrace this description. Palworld was first showcased at the Indie Live Expo in Japan in June 2021, where it received a warm reception. However, the Western media quickly latched onto the "Pokemon with guns" tagline, which has stuck with the game ever since, despite efforts to move away from it.

In a follow-up interview, Buckley elaborated that Pokemon was never part of the initial pitch for Palworld. The development team, comprised of fans of various games, drew inspiration from ARK: Survival Evolved and their previous game, Craftopia. The goal was to expand on ARK's concept, focusing on automation and giving each creature unique abilities and personalities. Buckley explained, "The pitch was, let's make something like ARK, but a lot heavier on the automation and each creature's like its own very special thing."

Despite the team's reservations, Buckley acknowledges that the "Pokemon with guns" label did contribute to Palworld's success. He mentioned that Dave Oshry from New Blood Interactive even trademarked "Pokemonwithguns.com," further fueling the game's viral spread. While the label helped with initial attention, Buckley hopes that players will give the game a chance to experience its true nature, which he feels is far removed from the Pokemon comparison.

Buckley also believes that Pokemon and Palworld don't compete for the same audience, pointing to ARK as a closer parallel. He views competition in the gaming industry as somewhat artificial, stating, "I think the competition in games is kind of manufactured for the sake of it... We're just always in competition with the timing [of releases] more than anything."

If Buckley could have chosen a different viral tagline for Palworld, he suggested something like, "Palworld: It's Kind of Like ARK if ARK Met Factorio and Happy Tree Friends." While not as catchy, this description better encapsulates the game's unique blend of survival, automation, and creature-centric gameplay.

In our full 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 complete discussion for further insights into the future of Palworld.