Palworld Won't Answer the Question 'What's Beyond AAA?'

Palworld's Unexpected Path: Pocketpair CEO Rejects AAA Status Despite Massive Success

Pocketpair, the developer behind the wildly successful Palworld, has amassed considerable profits. These profits are so substantial that their next project could easily surpass traditional "AAA" game standards. However, CEO Takuro Mizobe has once again confirmed the studio's intention to remain focused on indie game development.

The GameSpark interview revealed Palworld's sales are in the "tens of billions of yen" – potentially tens of millions of USD. Despite this windfall, Mizobe stated that Pocketpair lacks the structure to manage a project of that scale.

Palworld's development was funded by profits from previous titles, Craftopia and Overdungeon. This time, however, Mizobe is choosing a different path. He explained that scaling beyond AAA isn't feasible given the studio's current organizational structure. Instead, he prefers to pursue projects that resonate with the indie game market.

Mizobe emphasized that the challenges of AAA development, including the difficulty of creating a hit with a large team, outweigh the potential rewards. He sees a more promising future in the thriving indie scene, aided by improved game engines and industry conditions that allow for global success without massive teams. Pocketpair's success, he credits, is largely due to the indie gaming community, a community they aim to support.

"If we were to develop our next game based on these proceeds, the scale would surpass AAA, but our organization isn't structured for that," Mizobe clarified. He reiterated a preference for "interesting indie games" over large-budget projects.

The studio plans to continue its growth within the indie space, exploring the potential of the Palworld IP through other avenues.

Mizobe previously stated that, despite the influx of funds, Pocketpair will not be expanding its team or upgrading its facilities. Instead, they're focusing on expanding the Palworld franchise into diverse media.

Palworld, currently in early access, has already received considerable praise for its gameplay and consistent updates, including a PvP arena and the recent Sakurajima island addition. The formation of Palworld Entertainment, a joint venture with Sony, further highlights the studio's commitment to expanding the Palworld IP globally through licensing and merchandising.