(Image credit: Pocketpair)
Palworld emerged on the gaming scene last year with its early access launch, propelling a relatively small studio into a whirlwind of success and scrutiny. As Communications Director and Publishing Manager John Buckley reflected, many studios might have buckled under such immense pressure, yet Pocketpair‘s cohesive work culture remains their backbone.
At a recent Game Developers Conference, Buckley expressed, “Pocketpair really is a very, very friendly place. This is just my opinion, you can disagree, but I think very few companies could survive a post-Palworld situation like we did.” He believes that while many companies might succumb to the negative forces, Pocketpair managed to retain their entire team and move forward, thanks to their tightly-knit community.
Palworld quickly became a sensation, selling two million copies in 24 hours and achieving the rare feat of reaching two million concurrent players on Steam. However, with its popularity came a fair share of challenges, including comparisons to Pokemon, accusations of AI-generated art, and even a lawsuit from Nintendo.
In spite of these pressures, Buckley shared examples of how the studio uplifts its morale — from pizza and sushi gatherings to company outings. Notably, their CEO made headlines for giving the team a day off to enjoy the release of Monster Hunter Wilds, which Buckley amusingly noted as unexpectedly newsworthy.
Looking ahead, Palworld is set to offer crossplay across PC, Xbox, and PS5 this month, with Pocketpair teasing some exciting surprises for the fans of the survival game. Stay tuned for more weekly digests and engaging stories from the gaming worlds you love.