Last summer, Palworld developer Pocketpair inked a deal with Sony Music Entertainment to expand the Palworld universe beyond gaming into merchandise, music, and other products. This business agreement sparked a flurry of speculation among fans, who mistakenly believed it signaled an impending acquisition, especially following earlier rumors that Pocketpair was in talks with Microsoft for a buyout.
Pocketpair CEO Takuro Mizobe later debunked those acquisition rumors, but the conversation around the topic has persisted. With Microsoft's recent spree of acquisitions in the AA gaming industry and their interest in Japanese developers, alongside Sony's own acquisitions, fans continue to speculate about Pocketpair's future.
So, will Pocketpair ever be acquired? The decision rests with Mizobe, but according to communications director and publishing manager John 'Bucky' Buckley, who spoke at the Game Developers Conference last month, an acquisition seems highly unlikely. Buckley emphasized Mizobe's strong desire for independence, 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 comments were emphatic, and he added that any potential acquisition might only happen if Mizobe were much older and looking to sell for financial reasons, which Buckley finds unlikely in his lifetime. He also noted the different paths the company and the IP are taking, with Aniplex and Sony Music steering the Palworld IP while Pocketpair focuses on the game's development.
In our broader discussion, Buckley and I also touched on the possibility of Palworld coming to the Nintendo Switch 2, the studio's reaction to the game being dubbed "Pokemon with guns," and more. You can dive into the full interview [ttpp].
