Palworld Developers Reject 'Pokemon With Guns' Label

When you think of Palworld, the phrase "Pokemon with guns" likely springs to mind. This shorthand, popularized across the internet, significantly contributed to the game's initial surge in popularity due to the intriguing blend of two seemingly disparate concepts. Even we at IGN have used this phrase, as have many others, because it's a quick and effective way to convey the game's essence to newcomers.

However, according to John 'Bucky' Buckley, Pocketpair's communications director and publishing manager, the "Pokemon with guns" label was never the intended takeaway. In fact, Buckley expressed during a talk at the Game Developers Conference that Pocketpair doesn't particularly love this moniker. He recounted the game's reveal at the Indie Live Expo in Japan in June 2021, where it initially received a warm reception. But soon after, Western media quickly branded it as a "certain franchise" plus guns, a label that has stuck despite efforts to shake it off.

In a follow-up interview, Buckley elaborated 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 on automation and giving each creature unique personalities and abilities. Yet, after the first trailer was released, the "Pokemon with guns" label emerged, which, while not welcomed, undeniably boosted the game's visibility.

Buckley acknowledged that the "Pokemon with guns" label did play a significant role in Palworld's success. He mentioned that Dave Oshry from New Blood Interactive even trademarked "Pokemonwithguns.com," further fueling the game's notoriety. However, Buckley expressed frustration that some people still believe this label accurately describes the gameplay, which he insists is far from the truth. He encourages players to try the game before forming an opinion.

Moreover, Buckley doesn't see Pokemon as a direct competitor to Palworld, citing a lack of significant audience crossover and pointing to ARK as a more apt comparison. He also dismissed the notion of competition in the gaming industry as largely manufactured, suggesting that the real challenge is timing releases amidst a crowded market. Not even games like Helldivers 2, which many Palworld players also purchased, are seen as direct competitors.

If Buckley could choose a different viral tagline for Palworld, he suggested something like, "Palworld: It's Kind of Like ARK if ARK Met Factorio and Happy Tree Friends." He admits, though, that it doesn't have the same catchy ring as "Pokemon with guns."

Buckley and I also discussed the potential for Palworld on the Nintendo Switch 2, the possibility of Pocketpair being acquired, and more. You can read the full interview here.