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 industry with the launch of Pocketpair Publishing. Their first project under this new venture will be to support Surgent Studios, the creators of the debut title Tales of Kenzera: Zau, in developing a brand new horror game. This upcoming game will not continue the Tales of Kenzera narrative but will instead explore a unique theme identified within the entertainment industry.

Surgent Studios CEO Abubakar Salim expressed excitement about 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." Salim also mentioned ongoing discussions about further projects within the Tales of Kenzera universe, indicating that this horror game will serve as a standalone milestone in their journey.

Details such as a release window or title for the horror game have not been disclosed, suggesting that the project is still in its early stages. This endeavor is separate from Surgent Studios' previously announced Project Uso concept.

Pocketpair Publishing is also opening its doors to other developers, emphasizing a hands-off approach. On their website, they state, "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, reinforced this sentiment, 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 about their collaboration with Surgent Studios, noting, "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 honoured 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 is also known for his acting roles in Assassin's Creed Origins, House of the Dragon, and as the lead in Tales of Kenzera: Zau, shared his gratitude on X/Twitter, saying, "It's an incredible honor to be Pocketpair Publishing's first partner. 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 is a single-player Metroidvania game that delves into themes of grief and love. It received a 7/10 rating from IGN, with the review highlighting, "Tales of Kenzera: Zau's action isn't groundbreaking within the genre, but its elevated by a truly moving tale about how to go on in this world when your loved ones have passed on to the next." Despite its positive reception, the game did not achieve the commercial success needed to avoid layoffs at Surgent Studios in July and further redundancy notices in October due to funding challenges. The support from Pocketpair Publishing could be crucial for the studio's future.

Meanwhile, Pocketpair continues to navigate a patent infringement lawsuit from The Pokémon Company and Nintendo, sparked by the phenomenal sales success of Palworld.