Palworld Developers Reject 'Pokemon With Guns' Label

When you think of Palworld, the immediate association for many is "Pokemon with guns," a phrase that has followed the game since its initial surge in popularity. This catchy but reductive label was coined by internet users and media alike, including us at IGN, to describe the game's unique blend of creature collection and weaponry. However, according to John 'Bucky' Buckley, Pocketpair's communications director and publishing manager, this was never the intended focus of the game.

In a talk at the Game Developers Conference, Buckley explained that Palworld was first revealed in June 2021 at the Indie Live Expo in Japan, where it received a warm reception. However, as Western media caught wind of the game, it was quickly branded as a combination of a "certain franchise" and guns—a label that has persisted despite efforts to move away from it.

In an interview following his talk, Buckley elaborated that Pokemon was never part of the initial pitch for Palworld. Instead, the game drew inspiration from ARK: Survival Evolved. The development team, many of whom were fans of ARK, wanted to create a game that expanded on the automation aspects of ARK and gave each creature unique personality and abilities. The first trailer, however, led to the "Pokemon with guns" moniker, which Buckley admitted they weren't thrilled about but acknowledged its role in boosting the game's visibility.

Buckley conceded that the label did contribute to Palworld's success, with notable actions like Dave Oshry from New Blood Interactive trademarking 'Pokemonwithguns.com' adding fuel to the fire. Despite this, Buckley expressed frustration over the misconception that Palworld is simply "Pokemon with guns," emphasizing that the gameplay is far from that simplistic description. He encouraged players to try the game before forming an opinion.

Interestingly, Buckley doesn't see Pokemon as a direct competitor to Palworld, citing minimal audience crossover and pointing to ARK as a more apt comparison. He also dismissed the notion of direct competition in the gaming industry as largely manufactured, suggesting that the real challenge is timing releases amidst the vast array of available games.

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 he acknowledged that this doesn't roll off the tongue as easily, it more accurately reflects the game's unique blend of survival, automation, and creature management.

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 discussion here.