Pocketpair Ventures into Publishing with Tales of Kenzera Dev's Next Game

Pocketpair, the developer behind the popular game Palworld, is branching out into the publishing industry. The newly established Pocketpair Publishing has announced its first project: a new horror game developed by Surgent Studios, known for their debut title, Tales of Kenzera: Zau, released in April of last year. This upcoming horror game will not be a part of the Tales of Kenzera universe but rather a standalone project.

Surgent Studios CEO Abubakar Salim shared insights on the new project, stating, "We noticed a pattern in the entertainment industry, and Pocketpair has given us the opportunity to make a horror game about it. Both Surgent and Pocketpair are well versed in taking risks. This game will be short and weird, and we think players will be interested in what we have to say." He also mentioned ongoing discussions about future projects within the Tales of Kenzera universe, but emphasized that the horror game will serve as a unique "mile marker" for the studio.

While no release window or title has been announced for the horror game, it's clear that the project is still in its early stages. This project is distinct from the previously shared Project Uso concept by Surgent Studios.

Pocketpair Publishing is also opening its doors to other developers, emphasizing a hands-off approach. "We don't want to tell you what to do. We don’t want to take control from you. We don’t want to change your dream or push you to make a certain type of game," the company stated on its website.

John Buckley, Head of Pocketpair Publishing, expressed enthusiasm about the new venture, saying, "At Pocketpair, there is nothing we love more than games, and Pocketpair Publishing is our latest venture to help the world enjoy gaming even more. Game development comes with many challenges, but we want to ease that process as much as possible and provide an environment where creators can pursue their dreams. We are pleased to be able to support Surgent Studios’ new title as our first step. We deeply sympathize with their original ideas and passion and are honored to help them realize their vision. We will respect the autonomy and vision of developers and work together to make great games for people all over the world."

Abubakar Salim, who also has a notable acting career with roles in Assassin's Creed Origins, House of the Dragon, and as the protagonist in Tales of Kenzera: Zau, expressed his gratitude on X/Twitter, saying, "It's an incredible honor to be Pocketpair Publishing's first partner. This is the energy I want to see driving games in 2025: developers lifting each other up, creating together, and pushing the industry forward."

Tales of Kenzera: Zau, a single-player Metroidvania game, delves into themes of grief and love. It received a 7/10 in IGN's review, praised for its moving narrative despite not being groundbreaking in its action mechanics. However, the game's positive reception did not translate into sustained success, leading to layoffs at Surgent Studios in July and further funding struggles by October. The support from Pocketpair Publishing could be crucial for the studio's future.

Meanwhile, Pocketpair continues to navigate a patent infringement lawsuit from The Pokémon Company and Nintendo, following the record-breaking sales of Palworld.