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

Palworld's Unexpected Path: From Massive Success to Indie Focus

Pocketpair, the developer behind the wildly successful Palworld, has amassed tens of billions of yen in profits—enough to fund a game exceeding AAA standards. However, CEO Takuro Mizobe has reiterated his commitment to remaining an indie developer, prioritizing smaller-scale projects.

Mizobe, in a recent GameSpark interview, explained that while Palworld's success is undeniable (generating an estimated $68.57 million USD), Pocketpair lacks the organizational structure to manage a project of that scale. The studio's previous successes, Craftopia and Overdungeon, funded Palworld's development, but Mizobe believes scaling up too quickly would be detrimental.

He stated, "If we developed our next game with these proceeds, it would surpass AAA scale, but our organization isn't structured for that." Instead, Mizobe prefers focusing on "interesting indie games," leveraging the current boom in the indie market and its improved development tools. He credits the indie community for Pocketpair's growth and intends to give back.

The studio's strategy involves expanding the Palworld IP into other media, rather than expanding its team or office space. Palworld's early access phase has already seen significant updates, including a PvP arena and the Sakurajima update. A partnership with Sony's Palworld Entertainment handles global licensing and merchandising.

Pocketpair's decision to resist the allure of AAA development highlights a unique approach in the gaming industry, prioritizing creative freedom and community engagement over sheer scale.