Palworld Studio’s CEO Would “Never Allow” an Acquisition – Communications Director

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In an interview with IGN, Pocketpair’s Communications Director and Publishing Manager, Jon Buckley, discussed that the CEO firmly believes in keeping Pocketpair independent and has no intention of selling the company. When asked about potential acquisition offers, Buckley shared this stance.

Buckley replied, “Our CEO [Takuro Mizobe] is firmly against that idea.” Or, “Buckley stated that our CEO [Takuro Mizobe] would definitely not approve of it.” In other words, he emphasized that the CEO doesn’t appreciate being told what to do and prefers to maintain his independence.

Buckley speculates that Mizobe’s retirement might trigger the acquisition of Pocketpair, but he doesn’t foresee this happening imminently. That’s because Pocketpair is engaged in various projects, including Palworld as a significant intellectual property, which keeps them occupied for some time.

Buckley expressed surprise, saying, “I’d find it hard to believe,” he added. “Perhaps when [Mizobe] gets older, he might choose to sell it for financial reasons. That would be a pity, but I doubt I’ll witness it during my lifetime. Instead, I look forward to seeing where the two paths diverge. As for Pocketpair, we’re only concerned with the direction of the game. The Palworld IP is something we’re involved in, but currently, Aniplex and Sony Music are leading the way, taking charge while we provide our insights and opinions.

Back in March 2024, Mizobe mentioned that our studio was content with its autonomy but open to partnerships or acquisitions. However, Buckley’s recent statements seem to go against this, which leaves me wondering if there might be any changes in our strategy.

Back in July 2024, Pocketpair teamed up with Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) and Aniplex to form a new company named Palworld Entertainment Inc. The primary aim of this partnership is to progressively expand the Palworld intellectual property. This could involve worldwide merchandising, licensing, and possibly other aspects.

Previously, Buckley mentioned the possibility of porting the game Palworld onto the Nintendo Switch 2. In a recent chat, he disclosed that the studio would contemplate this option once further specifications about the console were unveiled, and only if it demonstrated sufficient power to operate the game effectively.

Buckley mentioned in March that he hadn’t caught a glimpse of those specs. Just like others, he’s been keeping watch. At the Game Developers Conference (GDC), he was hoping someone would share details about them, but everyone he’s talked to hasn’t seen them either.

He noted that if [Switch 2] is powerful enough, it’s definitely worth considering due to the technical challenges the studio could encounter. They’ve made significant optimizations for Steam Deck and are pleased with the results, although there’s still work to do. Ideally, they’d like to make their game compatible with more handheld devices if feasible.

In addition to their work on the game Palworld, developers at Pocketpair are collaborating with Surgent Studios, creators of Tales of Kenzera: Zau, on their upcoming title. At this time, the game doesn’t have a name, but it has been characterized as “brief and peculiar.” The studio and publisher have also disclosed that it will be a horror-themed project.

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2025-04-10 17:41