When you think of Palworld, the phrase "Pokemon with guns" likely springs to mind. This shorthand became widely used when the game first gained popularity, propelling its rise due to the unique fusion of two seemingly disparate concepts. Even we at IGN have used this phrase, just like everyone else, as it provided a quick and easy way for newcomers to grasp the game's essence.

However, according to Pocketpair's communications director and publishing manager, John 'Bucky' Buckley, this wasn't the intended takeaway. In fact, Buckley expressed during a talk at the Game Developers Conference that Pocketpair isn't particularly fond of this moniker. He recounted the game's initial reveal in June 2021 at the Indie Live Expo in Japan, which received a warm welcome from the local audience. But soon after, Western media labeled it as a 'certain franchise' plus guns—a label that has stuck despite efforts to shake it off.

In a subsequent interview, Buckley elaborated on this. He clarified that Pokemon was never part of the initial pitch for Palworld. While the development team includes Pokemon fans who acknowledged the similarities in monster-collecting mechanics, their primary inspiration was ARK: Survival Evolved. Buckley explained that many team members are avid ARK players, and their previous game, Craftopia, drew inspiration from ARK. The aim was to create something akin to ARK but with a greater emphasis on automation and unique creature abilities.

When asked if the "Pokemon with guns" label contributed to Palworld's success, Buckley acknowledged its impact. He mentioned that Dave Oshry from New Blood Interactive even trademarked 'Pokemonwithguns.com', which fueled the viral spread. Despite this, Buckley feels frustrated when people believe the game is exactly what the label suggests without giving it a fair chance. He emphasized that Palworld is not remotely similar to the gameplay experience one might expect from the phrase.

Buckley also doesn't view Pokemon as a significant competitor to Palworld, citing minimal audience crossover and drawing a closer parallel to ARK. He further downplayed the notion of direct competition within the gaming industry, suggesting that competition is often manufactured for marketing purposes. He noted that the real challenge is timing releases amidst a sea of games, rather than competing with specific titles, even popular ones like Helldivers 2.

If Buckley could choose a different viral tagline for Palworld, he humorously suggested, "Palworld: It's Kind of Like ARK if ARK Met Factorio and Happy Tree Friends." He admits, though, that it doesn't have the same catchy ring as "Pokemon with guns."

Buckley and I also discussed the potential for Palworld to come to the Nintendo Switch 2, the possibility of Pocketpair being acquired, and more in our interview. You can read the full discussion right here.