Pocketpair, the developer behind the hit game Palworld, is expanding its horizons into the publishing arena with the launch of Pocketpair Publishing. This new venture will kick off by supporting Surgent Studios, the creators of the acclaimed debut title Tales of Kenzera: Zau, in the development of their next project—a brand new horror game. Announced via X/Twitter, this upcoming game won't be a follow-up to the Tales of Kenzera universe but a standalone experience.
Surgent Studios' CEO, Abubakar Salim, shared insights on the new project, stating, "We noticed a pattern in the entertainment industry, and Pocketpair has given us the opportunity to make a horror game about it. Both Surgent and Pocketpair are well versed in taking risks. This game will be short and weird, and we think players will be interested in what we have to say." Salim also hinted at ongoing discussions about further projects in the Tales of Kenzera universe, positioning this horror game as a significant milestone for the studio.
While no specific release window or title has been announced for the horror game, it's clear that the project is still in its early stages. This horror game also stands apart from the previously mentioned Project Uso by Surgent Studios.
In addition to their collaboration with Surgent Studios, Pocketpair Publishing is opening its doors to other developers. On their website, they emphasized a developer-friendly approach, stating, "We don't want to tell you what to do. We don’t want to take control from you. We don’t want to change your dream or push you to make a certain type of game." John Buckley, head of Pocketpair Publishing, further elaborated on their mission: "At Pocketpair, there is nothing we love more than games, and Pocketpair Publishing is our latest venture to help the world enjoy gaming even more. Game development comes with many challenges, but we want to ease that process as much as possible and provide an environment where creators can pursue their dreams."
Buckley expressed enthusiasm about supporting Surgent Studios' new title as their first project, highlighting their commitment to respecting developers' autonomy and vision. Salim, who is also known for his acting roles in Assassin's Creed Origins, House of the Dragon, and Tales of Kenzera: Zau, celebrated the partnership on X/Twitter, saying, "It's an incredible honor to be Pocketpair Publishing's first partner. This is the energy I want to see driving games in 2025: developers lifting each other up, creating together, and pushing the industry forward."
Tales of Kenzera: Zau, a single-player Metroidvania game that delves into themes of grief and love, received a 7/10 from IGN, praised for its emotional storytelling despite not being groundbreaking in its gameplay. However, the game's success was not enough to prevent layoffs at Surgent Studios in July and further funding struggles leading to redundancy notices in October. The support from Pocketpair Publishing comes at a crucial time for the studio.
Meanwhile, Pocketpair itself continues to navigate legal challenges, facing a patent infringement lawsuit from The Pokémon Company and Nintendo following Palworld's unprecedented sales success.
