‘If You’re Big on AI Stuff Or Your Game is Web3 or uses NFTs, We’re Not The Right Partner,’ Says Palworld Publisher Pocketpair

Palworld developer and publisher Pocketpair has confirmed it will not be publishing any games that feature NFTs, Web3, or “big AI stuff,” revealing the company “doesn’t believe” in them.

In an interview with Game Developer, John “Bucky” Buckley, communications director and publishing manager for Pocketpair said: “People are going to say I’m lying, but these are just the hard facts. We don’t believe in it. We’re very upfront about it. If you’re big on AI stuff or your game is Web3 or uses NFTs, there are lots of publishers out there [who’ll talk to you], but we’re not the right partner for that.”

“I think over the next two or three years we’re going to get into this weird era — and you can see it slowly happening now on Steam — of really low quality, AI-made games,” Buckley added. “It’s something that has plagued other stores but Steam had been good at keeping them out. But it’s happening. This wave is coming, and I think we’re going to enter this kind of authenticity market where people are going to slowly say ‘no, these guys are really trying to make something special’ to fight back.”

Pocketpair is perhaps more sensitive than most when it comes to accusations about AI, not least because Palworld similarly faced claims it was “AI slop” and used generative AI, something the company vehemently denies and continues to challenge.

“You know, I can’t just come out and start fighting with these people [who make the AI accusations] because that just fuels what’s going on,” Buckley explained. “[Regarding the translation accusation], one of their biggest pieces of ‘evidence’ was that because we hadn’t published the individual names of the translators it must be AI. Well, no, this is just poor Japanese culture in general. A lot of Japanese games, the credits will say localization was handled by a company.”

The use of AI in game development continues to be highly divisive, and for every fan of the emerging tech, you’ll find someone fighting against it. Earlier today, we reported that Silent Hill series producer Motoi Okamoto similarly shirked AI, claiming “AI would never be able to make” a sequel like Silent Hill f. Conversely, Dead Space creator Glen Schofield recently unveiled plans to “fix” the industry in part via the use of generative AI in games development, and industry veteran and former Santa Monica Studio director, Meghan Morgan Juinio, said: “I think if we don’t embrace [AI], I think we’re selling ourselves short. AI is a tool, and something that will augment us. At least for right now, that’s how I see it. It’s going to evolve whether you’re onboard with it or not, so I want to be at the forefront of helping to guide how that goes and how we use it.”

Epic Games boss Tim Sweeney believes small teams will soon be able to use AI prompts to make video games on the scale of Nintendo masterpiece The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

At the Game Developers Conference (GDC) in March, IGN sat down with Buckley to discuss number of Palworld’s struggles, including Nintendo’s patent infringement lawsuit against the studio.

Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world’s biggest gaming sites and publications. She’s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.