The future of Palworld’s developer, Pocketpair, continues to stir conversation as speculation around potential acquisitions circulates within the gaming community. Despite past rumors suggesting possible buyouts, including alleged talks with Microsoft, Pocketpair remains firmly independent, with no signs of that changing any time soon.
Last year, the company entered a business partnership with Sony Music Entertainment. The deal focused on expanding the Palworld franchise beyond video games, covering merchandise and music-related ventures. However, many fans mistakenly interpreted this collaboration as a sign that a full acquisition was imminent, especially amid a wave of high-profile purchases by both Microsoft and Sony in recent years.
Pocketpair’s CEO, Takuro Mizobe, previously dismissed the acquisition rumors, clarifying that there were no such plans. Nonetheless, the topic has persisted among fans, particularly as major players in the industry continue to acquire smaller studios, including those based in Japan.
Clear Stance From Pocketpair’s Leadership
During last month’s Game Developers Conference, Pocketpair’s communications director and publishing manager, John ‘Bucky’ Buckley, addressed the matter. When asked about the likelihood of the company being acquired, Buckley expressed strong doubts.
He stated that their CEO would never allow such a deal to happen, emphasizing repeatedly that Mizobe enjoys the independence of running his own studio. According to Buckley, Mizobe prefers maintaining control and dislikes being directed by others.
Buckley added that unless the CEO significantly changes his outlook later in life, the idea of a sale remains off the table. He remarked that perhaps Mizobe might consider it when he is older and sees value in a financial exit, but even that possibility seems remote in the near future. Buckley noted that such a scenario would be unfortunate and said he personally doesn’t expect to witness a sale within his lifetime.
Palworld’s Future Lies on Two Tracks
Buckley also spoke about the current trajectory of the Palworld intellectual property. While Pocketpair continues to guide the development of the game itself, the broader expansion of the Palworld universe—through merchandise and media—is largely overseen by Aniplex and Sony Music. He explained that Pocketpair plays more of a supportive role in that area, offering input rather than taking the lead.
Although other topics were discussed, including the potential arrival of Palworld on the rumored Nintendo Switch 2 and the community’s comparisons of the game to “Pokemon with guns,” the firm stance on Pocketpair’s independence was a highlight of the conversation.