Pocketpair CEO Takuro Mizobe has confirmed that the studio will continue developing Palworld without committing all its resources to the hit survival game. In an interview with Video Games Chronicle (VGC), Mizobe explained that the company wants to support Palworld’s future while pursuing new projects and experimenting with different gameplay ideas.
The comments offer insight into how Pocketpair plans to handle the success of Palworld, which attracted more than 40 million players, according to the studio. Rather than allowing its biggest hit to define the company’s entire future, Pocketpair wants to maintain the creative freedom that helped it develop games such as Craftopia and Palworld.
Mizobe emphasized that the studio has no intention of abandoning Palworld. Instead, it wants to find ways to continue expanding the game while making room for new challenges.
Pocketpair Plans to Continue Palworld While Developing New Games
In his interview with Video Games Chronicle (VGC), Mizobe acknowledged that maintaining a successful game while pursuing other creative projects is a challenge for independent developers. He explained that Pocketpair wants to find the right direction for Palworld based on what players want, rather than treating it purely as a live-service business.
“But to say that we would put 100% of Pocketpair’s resources into just making Palworld isn’t something that we want to do,”
Mizobe told VGC.
The CEO added that Pocketpair wants to continue experimenting with different ideas, which could lead to new games and introduce Palworld to a wider audience. He also stressed that Palworld will continue in different ways, suggesting the studio intends to explore opportunities beyond its existing game.
Palworld has already expanded beyond its original survival crafting format through partnerships. One example is the Palworld trading card game developed with Bushiroad, which reflects Pocketpair’s interest in growing the franchise through collaborations.
However, Mizobe’s comments do not indicate that the studio is reducing its commitment to Palworld. Instead, Pocketpair wants to support the existing game while preserving the opportunity to develop original projects.
Mizobe also explained that preserving Pocketpair’s independence remains important as the company grows. Although the studio is approaching the AA category in terms of size, he said it still considers itself an indie developer and wants to retain the freedom to experiment without excessive outside oversight.
Pocketpair’s approach also extends to its publishing business. Mizobe said the company established the division to help independent developers handle the business challenges involved in releasing games, rather than simply generating revenue. He believes Pocketpair’s own experience as an indie studio can help smaller teams bring their projects to players.
The CEO also acknowledged the difference between player enthusiasm and critical reception. While he considers player opinions essential, he recognizes that professional reviews matter too. His comments suggest Pocketpair intends to keep listening to its audience while developing games that reflect its experimental approach.
| Platforms | Microsoft Windows |
|---|---|
| Developer | Pocketpair |
