Palworld CEO Rejects Acquisition: 'Never Allow It'

Last summer, the developer of Palworld, Pocketpair, entered into an agreement with Sony Music Entertainment to expand the Palworld universe beyond gaming through merchandise, music, and other products. This business deal sparked speculation among fans, who mistakenly thought it signaled an impending acquisition, especially following earlier rumors that Pocketpair was in discussions with Microsoft for a buyout.

Pocketpair's CEO, Takuro Mizobe, later debunked these acquisition rumors, but the discussions persisted, fueled by Microsoft's acquisitions across the AA gaming industry and their interest in Japanese developers, as well as Sony's own strategic acquisitions.

So, is an acquisition of Pocketpair on the cards? The decision ultimately rests with Mizobe. At the Game Developers Conference last month, Pocketpair's communications director and publishing manager, John 'Bucky' Buckley, expressed strong skepticism about the likelihood of such a move.

"Our CEO would never allow it," Buckley stated emphatically. "He'd never allow it. He'd never allow it. He would never, never allow it. He likes doing his own thing and he likes being his own boss. He doesn't like people telling him what to do."

Buckley continued, suggesting that perhaps in the distant future, when Mizobe is much older, he might consider selling the company for financial reasons, but he found it unlikely to happen in his own lifetime. He highlighted the separate paths of the game development and the broader IP management, noting that while Pocketpair focuses on the game, Aniplex and Sony Music are steering the Palworld IP, with Pocketpair offering advice and input.

In our interview, Buckley and I also discussed the potential for Palworld to be released on the Nintendo Switch 2, the studio's response to the game being dubbed "Pokemon with guns," and more. You can delve into the full conversation [ttpp].