Palworld Devs Reject 'Pokemon With Guns' Label

When you think of Palworld, the phrase that likely springs to mind is "Pokemon with guns." This shorthand became a viral sensation when the game first gained popularity, propelling its rise due to the intriguing fusion of seemingly disparate concepts. Even we at IGN have used this phrase, as have many others, for its simplicity and immediate relatability 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 takeaway. In fact, Buckley expressed during a talk at the Game Developers Conference that the team at Pocketpair does not particularly love this moniker. He recounted the game's initial reveal in June 2021 at the Indie Live Expo in Japan, which was met with enthusiasm. Yet, as Western media caught wind of Palworld, it was swiftly branded as a 'certain franchise' plus guns—a tag that has persisted despite efforts to shake it off.

In a follow-up interview, Buckley elaborated that Pokemon was not central to the game's pitch. While the development team includes Pokemon fans who acknowledged the monster-collecting similarities, their vision was more aligned with games like ARK: Survival Evolved. Buckley mentioned their previous game, Craftopia, which drew inspiration from ARK. The goal with Palworld was to expand on ARK's concept, emphasizing automation and giving each creature unique personality and abilities. Yet, following the release of the first trailer, the "Pokemon with guns" label emerged, which, although not welcomed, undeniably contributed to the game's success.

Buckley acknowledged the impact of the label, citing instances like Dave Oshry from New Blood Interactive trademarking 'Pokemonwithguns.com'. While he recognizes that the phrase helped fuel interest, he is concerned that it misrepresents the game's actual gameplay. Buckley hopes players give Palworld a chance before labeling it as such.

Moreover, Buckley does not see Pokemon as a direct competitor, suggesting minimal audience crossover and emphasizing ARK as a closer comparison. He also dismisses the notion of direct competition among games, viewing it as a manufactured concept for marketing purposes. Instead, he believes that the timing of game releases poses a more significant challenge than competition between titles.

If Buckley could choose a different viral tagline, he suggested, "Palworld: It's Kind of Like ARK if ARK Met Factorio and Happy Tree Friends." While admitting it's not as catchy, he feels it more accurately reflects the game's essence.

In our extended interview, Buckley also discussed the potential for Palworld on the Nintendo Switch 2, the possibility of Pocketpair being acquired, and more. You can delve into the full discussion here.