When you think of Palworld, the phrase "Pokemon with guns" likely springs to mind. This shorthand became the game's viral tagline when it first surged in popularity, largely due to the internet's fascination with the unusual pairing of these two concepts. Even we at IGN have used this phrase, as have many others, because it was a convenient way to quickly convey the game's essence to newcomers.
However, according to John 'Bucky' Buckley, Pocketpair's communications director and publishing manager, this was never the intended takeaway. Speaking at the Game Developers Conference last month, Buckley expressed that Pocketpair doesn't particularly love the moniker. He recounted the game's initial reveal at the Indie Live Expo in Japan in June 2021, where it was well-received. But soon after, Western media dubbed it a "certain franchise" plus guns, a label that has persisted despite efforts to move away from it.
In a subsequent interview, Buckley clarified that Pokemon was never part of the original pitch for Palworld. Although the development team includes Pokemon fans who recognized the similarities in monster collecting, their true inspiration was ARK: Survival Evolved. Buckley explained that many team members were fans of ARK, and their previous game, Craftopia, drew from ARK's mechanics. The vision for Palworld was to expand on ARK's concept, emphasizing automation and giving each creature unique abilities and personalities.
Buckley acknowledged that the "Pokemon with guns" label did contribute to Palworld's success. He mentioned that Dave Oshry from New Blood Interactive even trademarked "Pokemonwithguns.com," which further fueled the game's notoriety. Yet, Buckley expressed frustration that some people still believe this accurately describes the game without having played it. He encouraged players to give Palworld a chance before forming opinions based solely on the viral tagline.
Buckley also dismissed the idea that Pokemon represents significant competition for Palworld, suggesting that the audiences for the two games do not overlap much. He views ARK as a closer comparison but insists that Palworld isn't in direct competition with any specific game. Even the success of Helldivers 2, which many Palworld players also purchased, doesn't concern him. Buckley believes that competition in the gaming industry is often exaggerated for marketing purposes and that the real challenge lies in timing releases rather than competing with other titles.
If Buckley could have chosen a different viral tagline, he suggested, "Palworld: It's Kind of Like ARK if ARK Met Factorio and Happy Tree Friends." While acknowledging that it doesn't roll off the tongue as easily as "Pokemon with guns," he feels it better captures the essence of the game.
Buckley and I also discussed the potential for Palworld to be released on the Nintendo Switch 2, the possibility of Pocketpair being acquired, and more. You can read the full interview here.
