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, played a significant role in 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 isn't particularly fond of this moniker. He recounted the game's reveal at the Indie Live Expo in Japan in June 2021, where it 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 move away from it.

In a follow-up interview, Buckley clarified that Pokemon was never part of the initial 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 ideal, Buckley acknowledges helped fuel the game's success.

Buckley admits that the phrase did contribute to Palworld's rise, noting humorous anecdotes like Dave Oshry from New Blood Interactive trademarking "Pokemonwithguns.com." However, he expressed frustration that some people still believe the game is exactly that without giving it a fair chance. Buckley also pointed out that he doesn't see Pokemon as a direct competitor, citing more overlap with ARK's audience. He even mentioned that a significant portion of Palworld players also purchased Helldivers 2 upon its release, but he doesn't view this as competition either. Instead, Buckley believes that the notion of competition in gaming is often exaggerated for marketing purposes, emphasizing that the real challenge is timing releases amidst a crowded market.

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 acknowledged, however, that this doesn't have the same catchy appeal as "Pokemon with guns."

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