Pocketpair Teams Up with Tales of Kenzera Dev for Publishing Deal

Pocketpair, the developer behind Palworld, is branching out into publishing, starting with Surgent Studios' next project.

Pocketpair Publishing, a newly established entity, announced on X/Twitter its support for a "brand new horror game" from Surgent Studios, the team behind Tales of Kenzera: Zau. Importantly, this new horror title will be a standalone project, unrelated to the Tales of Kenzera universe.

Abubakar Salim, CEO of Surgent Studios, explained the collaboration: "We observed a trend in the entertainment industry, and Pocketpair offered us the chance to create a horror game based on it. Both Surgent and Pocketpair are comfortable taking risks. This game will be concise and unconventional, and we believe players will find our message compelling. We're still discussing future Tales of Kenzera projects, but this will be an independent title, a milestone between our past and future endeavors."

While no release date or title has been revealed, suggesting the project is in its early stages, it's distinct from Surgent Studios' previously announced Project Uso.

Pocketpair Publishing is actively seeking proposals from other developers, emphasizing a hands-off approach. Their website states: "We don't dictate; we don't control; we don't alter your vision or pressure you into specific game types."

John Buckley, Head of Pocketpair Publishing, elaborated: "At Pocketpair, our passion is gaming, and Pocketpair Publishing is our latest initiative to enhance the gaming experience globally. Game development presents numerous challenges, but we aim to simplify the process and foster an environment where creators can pursue their aspirations. Supporting Surgent Studios' new title marks our first step. We deeply respect their original ideas and dedication and are honored to assist in realizing their vision. We value developers' autonomy and collaborate to create exceptional games for a worldwide audience."

Salim, also a notable actor (known for roles in Assassin's Creed Origins, House of the Dragon, and Tales of Kenzera: Zau), expressed his excitement on X/Twitter, calling the partnership "an incredible honor." He added, "This is the kind of collaborative spirit I hope to see driving the games industry in 2025 – developers supporting each other, creating together, and advancing the industry."

Tales of Kenzera: Zau, a single-player Metroidvania game exploring themes of grief and love, received a 7/10 rating from IGN. Despite positive reviews, Surgent Studios faced layoffs in July and further redundancy notices in October due to funding issues, highlighting the significance of Pocketpair's support.

Meanwhile, Pocketpair continues to navigate a patent infringement lawsuit filed by The Pokémon Company and Nintendo following Palworld's successful launch.