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Pocketpair’s Indie Publishing Division: A Week In, 150 Pitches Already—What’s Next for the New Venture?
Summary:
In just one week, Pocketpair’s new indie publishing division has been flooded with hundreds of pitches and requests. While the developer of Palworld is still navigating a patent infringement lawsuit with Nintendo, its publishing arm is already making strides. With its first project lined up and more possibly on the way, Pocketpair is proving that despite the challenges, it’s ready to help indie games thrive.
In the fast-paced world of indie game development, few things are as exciting as the launch of a new publishing division. Enter Pocketpair, the studio behind the much-discussed Palworld, which only one week ago opened its indie publishing arm. In what is both a surprising and heartening move for the indie game community, Pocketpair has already been inundated with a staggering volume of pitches—150, to be exact—along with over 400 emails and 2,000+ LinkedIn requests.
"We are absolutely blown away by the interest we've received from YOU, the developers," the team at Pocketpair Publishing shared on Twitter. This overwhelming response has clearly taken the team by surprise, and yet, they remain determined to help as many great games as possible come to life. While Pocketpair recognizes that they won’t be able to support every pitch they’ve received, the fact that they’ve opened the door to so many creators has already positioned them as an ally for indie developers looking to bring their visions to life.
But despite the flood of incoming submissions, Pocketpair is already putting its plan into action. The indie publishing division has confirmed its first project: a horror game developed by Surgent Studios, the company led by Assassin’s Creed actor Abubakar Salim. Though no details about the game’s content or story have been disclosed, it is set to be released later this year. While it’s unclear whether this will be a fresh take on the genre or something entirely unique, it’s clear that Pocketpair is wasting no time getting its publishing arm off the ground.
The first project, however, is just the beginning. In a follow-up tweet, John “Bucky” Buckley, Pocketpair’s communications director, shared that the publisher is not only working on this horror title but hinted at two more unannounced projects, signified only by question marks in the graphic he posted. Pocketpair’s ambition for its indie publishing division appears to be growing, and as a company that has proven it’s not afraid to take bold steps (despite its ongoing legal battle with Nintendo over a patent infringement claim), the studio’s next moves are anyone’s guess.
Perhaps most surprising is that this new endeavor is unfolding amidst an ongoing legal challenge. Pocketpair is currently locked in a lawsuit with Nintendo over the alleged infringement of a Mario patent, yet this hasn’t stopped the studio from confidently moving forward. In addition to their publishing efforts, they are also bringing their 2018 card game Overdungeon to the Nintendo Switch—a move that speaks volumes about their independence and determination to continue growing their brand and impact within the industry.
Given the swift and enthusiastic reception to their indie publishing launch, it seems Pocketpair is well on its way to carving out a new niche in the world of indie game publishing. With the support of both established developers and newcomers alike, the publisher’s commitment to nurturing diverse and creative game ideas will undoubtedly be something to watch. For now, it’s clear that Pocketpair is making a name for itself as not just a game developer but also as a force for good in the indie game development world.
As the dust settles and more details emerge, one thing is certain: Pocketpair’s indie publishing venture is off to a promising start, and we can only imagine what they’ll be able to accomplish as they continue to support the games of tomorrow. With hundreds of pitches already pouring in, this is just the beginning of what could be a new era for indie games and the publishing world at large.
"We are absolutely blown away by the interest we've received from YOU, the developers," the team at Pocketpair Publishing shared on Twitter. This overwhelming response has clearly taken the team by surprise, and yet, they remain determined to help as many great games as possible come to life. While Pocketpair recognizes that they won’t be able to support every pitch they’ve received, the fact that they’ve opened the door to so many creators has already positioned them as an ally for indie developers looking to bring their visions to life.
But despite the flood of incoming submissions, Pocketpair is already putting its plan into action. The indie publishing division has confirmed its first project: a horror game developed by Surgent Studios, the company led by Assassin’s Creed actor Abubakar Salim. Though no details about the game’s content or story have been disclosed, it is set to be released later this year. While it’s unclear whether this will be a fresh take on the genre or something entirely unique, it’s clear that Pocketpair is wasting no time getting its publishing arm off the ground.
The first project, however, is just the beginning. In a follow-up tweet, John “Bucky” Buckley, Pocketpair’s communications director, shared that the publisher is not only working on this horror title but hinted at two more unannounced projects, signified only by question marks in the graphic he posted. Pocketpair’s ambition for its indie publishing division appears to be growing, and as a company that has proven it’s not afraid to take bold steps (despite its ongoing legal battle with Nintendo over a patent infringement claim), the studio’s next moves are anyone’s guess.
Perhaps most surprising is that this new endeavor is unfolding amidst an ongoing legal challenge. Pocketpair is currently locked in a lawsuit with Nintendo over the alleged infringement of a Mario patent, yet this hasn’t stopped the studio from confidently moving forward. In addition to their publishing efforts, they are also bringing their 2018 card game Overdungeon to the Nintendo Switch—a move that speaks volumes about their independence and determination to continue growing their brand and impact within the industry.
Given the swift and enthusiastic reception to their indie publishing launch, it seems Pocketpair is well on its way to carving out a new niche in the world of indie game publishing. With the support of both established developers and newcomers alike, the publisher’s commitment to nurturing diverse and creative game ideas will undoubtedly be something to watch. For now, it’s clear that Pocketpair is making a name for itself as not just a game developer but also as a force for good in the indie game development world.
As the dust settles and more details emerge, one thing is certain: Pocketpair’s indie publishing venture is off to a promising start, and we can only imagine what they’ll be able to accomplish as they continue to support the games of tomorrow. With hundreds of pitches already pouring in, this is just the beginning of what could be a new era for indie games and the publishing world at large.