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

Palworld developer Pocketpair is branching out into publishing, partnering with Surgent Studios, the creators of Tales of Kenzera: Zau, for their next project. Pocketpair Publishing, the newly formed entity, announced on X/Twitter that they will be supporting a brand-new horror game from Surgent Studios. This title will be a standalone project, unrelated to the Tales of Kenzera universe, though further collaborations within that universe are under discussion.

Surgent Studios CEO Abubakar Salim explained the collaboration, 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." He emphasized the game's standalone nature, describing it as "a mile marker between where we’ve come from and where we’re going." No release date or title has been revealed. This project is distinct from Surgent Studios' previously announced Project Uso.

Pocketpair Publishing is actively seeking pitches from other developers, emphasizing a collaborative approach. Their website states, "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."

John Buckley, Head of Pocketpair Publishing, further elaborated: "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. 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."

Salim, also known for his acting roles (including Bayek in Assassin's Creed Origins), expressed his enthusiasm on X/Twitter, calling the partnership "an incredible honor" and highlighting the collaborative spirit he hopes will define the gaming industry in 2025.

Tales of Kenzera: Zau, a single-player Metroidvania game exploring themes of grief and love, received a 7/10 rating from IGN, praised for its moving narrative. Despite this positive reception, Surgent Studios faced financial challenges, including layoffs and redundancy notices, making Pocketpair's support particularly significant. Meanwhile, Pocketpair continues to navigate a patent infringement lawsuit from The Pokémon Company and Nintendo, stemming from the success of Palworld.