When you think of Palworld, the phrase "Pokemon with guns" likely springs to mind. This shorthand, widely used across the internet, played a significant role in the game's initial surge in popularity due to the unique blend of two contrasting concepts. Even we at IGN have used this phrase, along with many others, as it offered a quick and clear way to describe the game to newcomers.
However, according to John 'Bucky' Buckley, Pocketpair's communications director and publishing manager, this was never the intended takeaway. Buckley expressed during a talk at the Game Developers Conference last month that Pocketpair isn't particularly fond of this label. He recounted how Palworld was first revealed to the world in June 2021 at the Indie Live Expo in Japan, where it received a warm reception. But soon after, Western media labeled it as a 'certain franchise' plus guns, a tag that has persisted despite efforts to shake it off.
In a subsequent interview, Buckley elaborated on this, stating that Pokemon was not part of the original pitch for Palworld. Although the development team includes Pokemon fans who recognized the monster-collecting similarities, their true inspiration was ARK: Survival Evolved. Buckley mentioned their previous game, Craftopia, which borrowed elements from ARK, and their aim with Palworld was to expand on this, focusing on automation and giving each creature unique personalities and abilities.
Buckley acknowledged that the "Pokemon with guns" label did contribute to Palworld's success. He noted that Dave Oshry from New Blood Interactive even trademarked 'Pokemonwithguns.com', which further fueled the game's viral spread. Yet, Buckley expressed a mild frustration that some people still believe this accurately represents the game's essence. He encourages players to try the game first before labeling it, emphasizing that it's not remotely similar to Pokemon in gameplay.
Moreover, Buckley doesn't see Pokemon as a direct competitor to Palworld, suggesting that the game's audience is more aligned with ARK players. He also dismissed the notion of competition in the gaming industry, calling it manufactured and more about release timing than actual rivalry. Even the success of Helldivers 2, which saw a significant overlap with Palworld's player base, didn't make him feel they were in direct competition.
If Buckley could have chosen a different viral tagline, he would have opted for something like, "Palworld: It's Kind of Like ARK if ARK Met Factorio and Happy Tree Friends." Although he admitted this doesn't roll off the tongue as easily as "Pokemon with guns."
In our 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 full conversation here.
