What comes to mind when you think of Palworld? Unfortunately for its developers, most people's immediate response is: "Pokemon with guns."
This shorthand emerged during the game's explosive popularity surge, likely fueling its rise through the unexpected mashup concept. Even we at IGN used this comparison, like virtually everyone else did. The phrase provided instant recognition for newcomers unfamiliar with the game.
However, Pocketpair's John 'Bucky' Buckley clarifies this was never their intended association. Speaking at the Game Developers Conference last month, their communications director admitted the studio never embraced this label. He traced the origin to 2021 when Western media first encountered their indie reveal trailer at Japan's Indie Live Expo.
"The 'certain franchise' plus guns branding stuck immediately," Buckley explained. "Despite our best efforts over the years, we've never shaken this comparison."
In our follow-up interview, Buckley emphasized Pokemon wasn't their development inspiration. While acknowledging their team enjoys the franchise, he stressed their core vision resembled ARK: Survival Evolved. Their previous game Craftopia had already experimented with ARK-inspired mechanics.
"We wanted to expand ARK's concepts with deeper creature personalities and automation systems," Buckley detailed. "When that first trailer dropped, the unintended branding emerged. While we weren't thrilled, we accepted it."
When pressed about whether the viral label boosted Palworld's success, Buckley conceded it played a role. He referenced how New Blood Interactive's Dave Oshry even registered "Pokemonwithguns.com" during the hype, acknowledging these organic reactions contributed to awareness.
"Our frustration comes when players judge the game solely by that label," Buckley noted. "We don't mind the comparison after people actually experience Palworld. But the gameplay bears little resemblance to that simplified description."
Buckley dismissed notions of direct competition with Pokemon or other titles like Helldivers 2, observing most players engage with multiple games. He criticized manufactured "console wars" as marketing constructs rather than genuine competition in today's crowded market.
"Release timing matters more than direct competition," he argued. "With countless games available, the concept of battling for audience share feels outdated."
When asked about his ideal viral descriptor, Buckley proposed: "Palworld: Imagine ARK meeting Factorio with Happy Tree Friends' aesthetic." He laughed at how clumsily this compared to the punchy "Pokemon with guns" phrase.
Our conversation also covered potential Nintendo Switch 2 availability and acquisition possibilities for Pocketpair. Read the complete interview here for more insights.
