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

Pocketpair, the developer behind Palworld, is branching out into publishing, starting with Surgent Studios' next project.

Pocketpair Publishing, the newly established publishing arm, announced on X/Twitter its first venture: a new horror game from Surgent Studios, the team behind the April 2022 release, Tales of Kenzera: Zau. This horror title will be a standalone project, unrelated to the Tales of Kenzera universe.

Surgent Studios CEO Abubakar Salim, also known for his acting roles (including Bayek in Assassin's Creed Origins), explained the collaboration: "We identified a trend in the entertainment industry, and Pocketpair provided the opportunity to create a horror game based on it. Both Surgent and Pocketpair are comfortable taking risks. This game will be concise and unconventional, and we believe players will appreciate our message." He further clarified that while future Tales of Kenzera projects are under discussion, this new horror game will be a distinct entity. No release date or title has been revealed. This project is also separate from Surgent Studios' previously announced Project Uso.

Pocketpair Publishing is actively seeking proposals from other developers, emphasizing a collaborative approach: "We won't dictate your creative direction, control your vision, or pressure you into a specific game type," their website states.

John Buckley, Head of Pocketpair Publishing, highlighted the company's commitment to supporting developers: "At Pocketpair, we're passionate about games. Pocketpair Publishing is our latest initiative to enhance the gaming experience globally. Game development presents numerous challenges, and we aim to simplify this process, fostering an environment where creators can pursue their aspirations. We're thrilled to partner with Surgent Studios on their new title, respecting their creative autonomy and vision."

Salim expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership on X/Twitter, calling it "an incredible honor" and emphasizing 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. While positively received, Surgent Studios faced financial difficulties, including layoffs and redundancy notices, making Pocketpair's support crucial for the studio's future.

This announcement comes as Pocketpair continues to navigate a patent infringement lawsuit filed by The Pokémon Company and Nintendo, following the remarkable sales success of Palworld.