PocketPair, the company Behind last year’s viral game Palworld, has a new venture: publishing indie games. The first project to be released later this year Tales of Kenzera: ZAU.
Palworldjokingly referred to as “”Pokémon with weapons“Was a breakout success last year, attracting more than 25 million players in its first months. The company’s move into publication occurs at a turbulent time For video games, Especially smaller studios; last year, Among us Developer Innersloth announced its own go into publication To advance projects. PocketPair’s Palworld Success seems to allow one to do the same.
“As the gaming industry continues to grow, more and more games are struggling to get funded or greenlit,” said John Buckley, head of Pocketpair Publishing, in a press release announcing the new division. “We think this is a real shame because there are so many incredible creators and ideas that just need a little help to become incredible games.”
So it’s no surprise that PocketPair would partner with Surgent Studios, which it has struggled to find funding After the publication of Broad. The developer put his team on hiatus last year as he sought a partner for his next one Kenzera Game, currently known as Project USO.
Surgent’s deal with PocketPair is separate from UseFounder Abubakar Salim tells Wired. In contrast to Afrofuturism BroadIt will be a horror title that aims to introduce players to something new. “We’re taking a little detour out of that Tales of Kenzera Universe,” says Salim.
Salim adds that the horror genre is “a fascinating space that delves into primal emotions and immerses audiences in a reality that is different from their own and yet something deep and dark within all of us.” PocketPair and Surgent only gave offered few details about the game in Thursday’s announcement other than describing it as “short and strange.”
“The world is so raw right now and it feels natural to create an experience that reflects that intensity and feeds off the intensity,” says Salim.
PocketPair Publishing has not announced any other future projects. The company has been embroiled in legal drama since last year, when Nintendo Filed a lawsuit claimed in Tokyo Palworld Violation of its copyright. Nintendo did not respond to a request for comment. When asked if the lawsuit against Surgent was worried, Salim said the studio wasn’t worried. “We’re thrilled to be working with their new publishing wing to bring this game to life,” he says.
