Palworld CEO Rejects Acquisition: 'Never Allow It,' Says Communications Director

Last summer, Palworld developer Pocketpair signed a deal with Sony Music Entertainment to expand the Palworld universe through merchandise, music, and other products. This business agreement sparked speculation among fans, who mistakenly thought it signaled an impending acquisition, especially following rumors earlier in the year that Pocketpair was in discussions with Microsoft about a potential buyout.

Pocketpair CEO Takuro Mizobe later clarified that the acquisition rumors were untrue, but the buzz certainly fueled discussions. Since then, speculation has continued, fueled by Microsoft's aggressive acquisition strategy in the AA gaming sector and their interest in Japanese developers, as well as Sony's own acquisitions in response.

So, will Pocketpair ever be acquired? The decision ultimately rests with Mizobe. When I spoke with Pocketpair's communications director and publishing manager, John 'Bucky' Buckley, at the Game Developers Conference last month, he expressed strong doubts about the likelihood of an acquisition.

"Our CEO would never allow it," Buckley emphasized. "He likes doing his own thing and being his own boss. He doesn't like people telling him what to do."

Buckley continued, "So I would be shocked. Maybe when he's old, and he might just sell it off for money. And that would be sad, but in my lifetime, I probably won't see it. No, it'll be interesting to see where the two paths go. We, Pocketpair, are obviously only involved in where the game path is going. Palworld as an IP, we are involved, but it’s very much in the hands of Aniplex and Sony Music who are steering that ship right now. We are just offering our advice and thoughts as they take that."

Buckley and I also spoke about the potential for Palworld to come to the Nintendo Switch 2, the studio’s response to the game being dubbed "Pokemon with guns," and much more in our interview. You can read the full discussion right here.