When you think of Palworld, the phrase that often comes to mind is "Pokemon with guns." This shorthand description took the internet by storm when the game first gained popularity, likely aiding its rise by blending two seemingly incongruent concepts. Even we at IGN have used this phrase, just like everyone else, as it provided a quick and easy way to describe the game to newcomers.
However, according to John 'Bucky' Buckley, the communications director and publishing manager at Pocketpair, the "Pokemon with guns" label was never the intended focus. During a talk at the Game Developers Conference, Buckley expressed that Pocketpair does not particularly love this moniker. He recounted the game's initial reveal at the Indie Live Expo in Japan in June 2021, where it received a warm reception. Yet, as Western media picked up on it, the game was swiftly branded as a mix of a "certain franchise" and guns, a label that has stuck despite their efforts to move past it.
In a follow-up interview, Buckley clarified that Pokemon was never part of the original pitch for Palworld. While the development team includes fans of Pokemon, and they recognized the similarities in monster collecting, their true inspiration was ARK: Survival Evolved. Buckley explained that many on the team were avid ARK players and that their previous game, Craftopia, drew inspiration from ARK. The goal with Palworld was to expand on ARK's concept, focusing more on automation and giving each creature unique personalities and abilities. However, the "Pokemon with guns" label emerged after the first trailer was released, and though it wasn't their preferred description, it undeniably contributed to the game's success.
Buckley acknowledged that the phrase did help Palworld gain traction, citing instances like Dave Oshry from New Blood Interactive trademarking "Pokemonwithguns.com." Yet, he expressed frustration that some people still believe the game is exactly that without giving it a fair chance. Buckley emphasized that Palworld is not in direct competition with Pokemon, as he believes the audiences for the two games do not significantly overlap. Instead, he sees ARK as a closer comparison, though he doesn't view Palworld as competing with any specific game for players. He even mentioned that a "very significant" portion of Palworld players also purchased Helldivers 2 upon its release.
Buckley critiqued the notion of competition in the gaming industry, suggesting it's often manufactured for marketing purposes. He believes that with the vast number of games available, competition is more about timing than direct rivalry. When asked what tagline he would have preferred for Palworld, Buckley humorously suggested, "Palworld: It's Kind of Like ARK if ARK Met Factorio and Happy Tree Friends," acknowledging that it doesn't quite have the same catchy appeal as "Pokemon with guns."
In our interview, Buckley and I also discussed the potential for Palworld to come to the Nintendo Switch 2, the possibility of Pocketpair being acquired, and more. You can read the full discussion here.
