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

Last summer, Palworld developer Pocketpair entered into an agreement with Sony Music Entertainment to expand the Palworld universe beyond gaming, producing merchandise, music, and other products. This deal sparked rumors among fans that it might signal an upcoming acquisition, particularly given earlier whispers that Pocketpair was in discussions with Microsoft for a buyout. However, Pocketpair CEO Takuro Mizobe later debunked these acquisition rumors, though the conversation around the topic persisted. With Microsoft actively acquiring numerous AA studios and reportedly eyeing Japanese developers, and Sony responding with acquisitions of its own, speculation about Pocketpair's potential acquisition has continued.

The question remains: will Pocketpair ever be acquired? The decision ultimately rests with Mizobe. At last month's Game Developers Conference, I discussed this with Pocketpair's communications director and publishing manager, John 'Bucky' Buckley, who made it clear that an acquisition of Pocketpair is highly unlikely.

“Our CEO would never allow it,” Buckley stated emphatically. “He likes doing his own thing and being his own boss. He doesn’t like people telling him what to do.”

Buckley elaborated further, suggesting that perhaps in the distant future, when Mizobe is older, he might consider selling for financial reasons, which Buckley finds a sad prospect. However, he believes it's unlikely to happen within his lifetime. He noted the distinction in paths: Pocketpair focuses on game development, while the broader Palworld IP is being managed by Aniplex and Sony Music, with Pocketpair providing input but not steering the ship.

In our interview, 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 read the full discussion here.