Palworld Developer Pocketpair Moves Into Publishing to Release Tales of Kenzera Dev's Next Game

Pocketpair, the developer behind the hit game Palworld, is branching out into the publishing business with its new venture, Pocketpair Publishing. They have announced their first project, a brand new horror game from Surgent Studios, the team behind the debut title Tales of Kenzera: Zau, released in April last year. This upcoming horror game will not be a continuation of the Tales of Kenzera universe but a standalone project exploring new themes.

Surgent Studios CEO Abubakar Salim expressed excitement about the new project, stating, "We noticed a pattern in the entertainment industry, and Pocketpair has given us the opportunity to make a horror game about it. Both Surgent and Pocketpair are well versed in taking risks. This game will be short and weird, and we think players will be interested in what we have to say." Salim also mentioned ongoing discussions about further projects in the Tales of Kenzera universe, indicating that the horror game serves as a creative milestone for the studio.

Details such as the release window and title for the new horror game remain undisclosed, suggesting it is still in the early stages of development. This project is distinct from the previously announced Project Uso by Surgent Studios.

Pocketpair Publishing is actively seeking pitches from other developers, emphasizing a supportive approach. "We don't want to tell you what to do. We don’t want to take control from you. We don’t want to change your dream or push you to make a certain type of game," the company stated on its website. John Buckley, Head of Pocketpair Publishing, reinforced this stance, saying, "At Pocketpair, there is nothing we love more than games, and Pocketpair Publishing is our latest venture to help the world enjoy gaming even more. Game development comes with many challenges, but we want to ease that process as much as possible and provide an environment where creators can pursue their dreams."

Buckley also expressed enthusiasm for supporting Surgent Studios' new title, highlighting the company's commitment to respecting developers' autonomy and vision. "We are pleased to be able to support Surgent Studios’ new title as our first step. We deeply sympathize with their original ideas and passion and are honored to help them realize their vision. We will respect the autonomy and vision of developers and work together to make great games for people all over the world."

Abubakar Salim, who also has an acting career with notable roles in Assassin's Creed Origins, House of the Dragon, and as the lead in Tales of Kenzera: Zau, shared his pride in being Pocketpair Publishing's first partner. In a post on X/Twitter, he said, "This is the energy I want to see driving games in 2025: developers lifting each other up, creating together, and pushing the industry forward."

Tales of Kenzera: Zau, a single-player Metroidvania game, delves into themes of grief and love. It received a 7/10 from IGN, praised for its moving narrative despite not revolutionizing the action within the genre. However, the game's positive reception did not translate into widespread commercial success, leading to layoffs at Surgent Studios in July and further redundancies in October due to funding challenges. The partnership with Pocketpair Publishing could be a crucial lifeline for the studio.

Meanwhile, Pocketpair continues to navigate a legal battle with The Pokémon Company and Nintendo over a patent infringement lawsuit, triggered by Palworld's record-breaking sales.