After the explosive success of Palworld, developer Pocketpair naturally had numerous opportunities to expand the game’s footprint. However, the team has no intention of completely copying Fortnite’s model — integrating different gameplay mechanics, cross-title collaborations, and various content into a single platform. In an interview with MP1st, Pocketpair’s Publishing and Communications Lead John “Bucky” Buckley stated that while the team certainly hopes their work succeeds, “maximizing revenue as quickly as possible” is not the main driving factor behind their creative decisions. Rather than building a massive platform constantly stuffed with new content, they prefer creating truly interesting games on their own terms.
No Battle Pass Model — They Make Separate Games Instead!
Pocketpair’s upcoming spin-off projects perfectly reflect this philosophy. Among them, Palworld: Palfarm is a farming-themed title where players can interact with Pals in a more relaxed manner. Following Fortnite’s development approach, the team could have simply added farming mechanics to the original game as a new mode, then expanded content through continuous updates. However, Buckley believes certain ideas are better suited as independent games, where the team can design gameplay systems, pacing, and overall experiences from scratch — without being constrained by the original game’s framework. He also emphasizes that neither the integrated platform approach nor independent releases are inherently superior; rather, different games should follow development methods that suit them best.
Romance Sim, Farm Management, and MMO Projects Announced
Beyond the farming simulation, Pocketpair is also exploring other possibilities for the Palworld universe, including a romance simulation title Palworld! ~More Than Just Pals and plans for a multiplayer online game. These projects allow players to experience the Palworld from different angles, rather than relying solely on the original game continuously releasing paid expansions to maintain momentum.
Buckley also reiterated that Pocketpair remains a completely self-owned, self-funded independent company, with the core decision-making principle being “Is this fun?” Of course, choosing to launch independent new titles doesn’t mean commercial considerations are entirely absent, but based on the team’s current statements, they clearly prefer giving each project its own distinctive character rather than turning all creative ideas into revenue tools on a single platform.