When you think of Palworld, the phrase "Pokemon with guns" likely springs to mind first. This catchy, albeit reductive, label was widely used across the internet when the game first gained popularity, contributing significantly to its viral spread. Even we at IGN used this phrase, as did everyone else, making it an easy shorthand for those unfamiliar with the game.
However, according to John 'Bucky' Buckley, Pocketpair's communications director and publishing manager, this was never the intended takeaway. In a talk at the Game Developers Conference, Buckley expressed that Pocketpair doesn't particularly love the moniker. He recounted how the game was first revealed in June 2021 at the Indie Live Expo in Japan, where it received a warm reception. But as soon as Western media caught wind of it, Palworld was quickly branded as "Pokemon with guns," a label that has stuck despite efforts to shake it off.
During an interview following his talk, Buckley elaborated that Pokemon was never part of the original pitch. While the development team are fans of Pokemon and recognized the monster-collecting similarities, their inspiration was more aligned with ARK: Survival Evolved. Buckley mentioned their previous game, Craftopia, which borrowed elements from ARK, and explained that the goal for Palworld was to expand on that concept, focusing on automation and giving each creature unique personalities and abilities.
Buckley acknowledged that the "Pokemon with guns" label did indeed help Palworld achieve its success. He cited an instance where Dave Oshry from New Blood Interactive trademarked "Pokemonwithguns.com," further fueling the game's viral nature. While he's okay with people using the phrase, Buckley expressed frustration that some believe it accurately describes the game without playing it. He emphasized that Palworld is not at all like Pokemon in gameplay and encouraged players to give it a chance first.
Furthermore, Buckley doesn't see Pokemon as a direct competitor, citing a lack of audience crossover and pointing to ARK as a more appropriate comparison. He also downplayed the idea of competition within the gaming industry, suggesting that the so-called "console wars" are more about marketing than actual rivalry. According to Buckley, the real competition is timing of releases rather than specific games.
If Buckley could choose a different tagline that went viral, he suggested something like, "Palworld: It's Kind of Like ARK if ARK Met Factorio and Happy Tree Friends." While he admits it's not as catchy, it better reflects the game's true nature.
Buckley and I also spoke about the potential for Palworld on the Nintendo Switch 2, the possibility of Pocketpair being acquired, and more. You can read the full interview here.
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