Palworld CEO Rejects Acquisition: 'Never Allow It,' Says Communications Director

Last summer, the developer behind Palworld, Pocketpair, entered into an exciting partnership with Sony Music Entertainment. This collaboration is set to expand the Palworld universe beyond the gaming realm, encompassing merchandise, music, and various other products. While this deal was purely a business move, some fans jumped to the conclusion that it hinted at an upcoming acquisition, fueled by earlier rumors that Pocketpair might be in discussions with Microsoft for such a takeover.

However, Pocketpair CEO Takuro Mizobe quickly dispelled these acquisition rumors, confirming that no such deal was in the works at the time. Despite this clarification, the topic of a potential acquisition has continued to stir speculation among fans, especially given Microsoft's aggressive acquisition strategy in the AA gaming sector and their interest in Japanese developers, as well as Sony's own moves in the acquisition space.

So, could Pocketpair ever find itself acquired? The decision ultimately rests with Mizobe, but when I caught up with Pocketpair's communications director and publishing manager, John 'Bucky' Buckley, at the Game Developers Conference last month, he expressed strong doubts about the possibility of an acquisition. Buckley emphasized that Mizobe values his independence and autonomy highly, stating, "Our CEO would never allow it. He'd never allow it. He'd never allow it. He would never, never allow it. He likes doing his own thing and he likes being his own boss. He doesn't like people telling him what to do."

Buckley's conviction on the matter is clear. He added, "So I would be shocked. Maybe when he's old, and he might just sell it off for money. And that would be sad, but in my lifetime, I probably won't see it. No, it'll be interesting to see where the two paths go. We, Pocketpair, are obviously only involved in where the game path is going. Palworld as an IP, we are involved, but it’s very much in the hands of Aniplex and Sony Music who are steering that ship right now. We are just offering our advice and thoughts as they take that."

In our broader conversation, Buckley and I also delved into the potential of Palworld making its way to the Nintendo Switch 2, the studio's take on the game being dubbed "Pokemon with guns," and more. You can dive into the full interview right here for all the details.