Tales of Kenzera Dev's Next Game Set for Release!

Pocketpair, the developer behind Palworld, is branching out into publishing, starting with Surgent Studios' next project.

Pocketpair Publishing, the newly established publishing arm, announced on X/Twitter its first venture: a new horror game from Surgent Studios, the creators of Tales of Kenzera: Zau. This new title will be a standalone project, unrelated to the Tales of Kenzera universe.

Abubakar Salim, CEO of Surgent Studios, explained the collaboration, stating that the game will be "short and weird," reflecting a shared risk-taking approach between both companies. While future projects within the Tales of Kenzera universe are under discussion, this new horror game serves as a bridge to their next creative phase. No release date or title has been revealed. This project is separate from Surgent Studios' previously announced Project Uso.

Pocketpair Publishing is actively seeking proposals from other developers, emphasizing a hands-off approach that prioritizes creative freedom and developer autonomy. John Buckley, Head of Pocketpair Publishing, highlighted the company's commitment to supporting game developers and easing the challenges of game development. He expressed enthusiasm for partnering with Surgent Studios, citing their original ideas and passion.

Salim, also known for his acting roles (including Bayek in Assassin's Creed Origins), celebrated the partnership on X/Twitter, emphasizing the collaborative spirit within the gaming industry.

Tales of Kenzera: Zau, a single-player Metroidvania game exploring themes of grief and love, received a 7/10 rating from IGN. Despite its positive reception, Surgent Studios faced financial difficulties, including layoffs and redundancy notices, making Pocketpair's support particularly significant.

This announcement comes as Pocketpair continues to navigate a patent infringement lawsuit filed by The Pokémon Company and Nintendo following Palworld's successful launch.