When you think of Palworld, the immediate association for many is "Pokemon with guns." This catchy yet reductive phrase took the internet by storm when the game first surged in popularity, largely due to its juxtaposition of two seemingly disparate concepts. Even we at IGN have used the term, mirroring the broader online community's shorthand for understanding the game's premise. This label likely played a role in Palworld's rise to fame, thanks to its striking and memorable nature.

However, according to Pocketpair's communications director and publishing manager John 'Bucky' Buckley, this moniker was never the intended focus. Speaking at the Game Developers Conference, Buckley revealed that the "Pokemon with guns" label was not something Pocketpair loved. The game was first introduced to the world in June 2021 during the Indie Live Expo in Japan, where it received a warm reception. Yet, as Western media caught on, the game was quickly branded with the now-famous tagline.

In a subsequent interview, Buckley clarified that Pokemon was never part of the original pitch for Palworld. Instead, the development team, composed of fans of both Pokemon and ARK: Survival Evolved, drew more inspiration from the latter. Buckley explained that their previous game, Craftopia, incorporated elements they loved from ARK. The vision for Palworld was to expand on this concept, emphasizing automation and unique creature abilities, aiming to create something akin to ARK but with a stronger focus on automation and individuality of creatures.

Despite their reservations, Buckley acknowledges that the "Pokemon with guns" label significantly contributed to Palworld's success. He mentioned that Dave Oshry from New Blood Interactive even trademarked "Pokemonwithguns.com," further fueling the game's viral spread. Buckley expressed a mild frustration that some still perceive Palworld solely through this lens without experiencing the game firsthand.

Interestingly, Buckley doesn't see Pokemon as a direct competitor to Palworld, citing minimal audience overlap. He views ARK as a more fitting comparison, though he believes that the concept of competition in the gaming industry is often overstated. Buckley argues that the sheer volume of games today dilutes any real competition, with timing of releases being a more significant factor than direct rivalry. He even mentioned that a "very significant" portion of Palworld players also purchased Helldivers 2 upon its release, suggesting that players' interests span multiple titles.

As for what Buckley wishes had become the viral tagline, he humorously proposed, "Palworld: It's Kind of Like ARK if ARK Met Factorio and Happy Tree Friends." While acknowledging that it doesn't have the same catchy ring as "Pokemon with guns," it more accurately reflects the game's intended essence.

Buckley and I also discussed the potential for Palworld on the Nintendo Switch 2, the prospect of Pocketpair being acquired, and more in our full interview, which you can read here.