Palworld developer Pocketpair has just announced a new publishing business, and with it, its first project – a mysterious horror game from Surgent Studios, the developer of last year's Metroidvania title Tales of Kenzera: ZAU.
Pocketpair Publishing says its "goal is to provide comprehensive support for game development through funding and publishing for indie developers and studios," and it sounds like this partnership with Surgent Studios is set to be the first of many. "Surgent Studios is a studio with an original approach, and Pocketpair is excited to support them to the fullest extent," Pocketpair Publishing writes. "Please look forward to future announcements for details of specific projects!"
Surgent Studios' founder Abubakar Salim – creative director of Tales of Kenzera: ZAU and a British actor who starred as Bayek in Assassin's Creed Origins and Alyn in House of the Dragon – has also been sharing the news. He says: "This is the energy I want to see driving games in 2025 – developers lifting each other up, creating together, and pushing the industry forward.
- Palworld developer Pocketpair opened its publishing arm only one week ago, and it's already received 150 pitches: "We're determined to help as many great games get made as possible"
- Palworld dev says he's swamped with offers for Pocketpair's new publishing company, which is all about "giving devs the financial freedom to make games they want"
"Massive love to the Pocketpair team! It's an incredible honor to be the first partnership announced with Pocketpair Publishing. We've been cooking up something fun, and I can't wait to share it with you all. Stay tuned!"
This is the energy I want to see driving games in 2025—developers lifting each other up, creating together, and pushing the industry forward.Massive love to the Pocketpair team! It’s an incredible honor to be the first partnership announced with @PocketpairPBLSH We’ve been… https://t.co/DM8Z7Lp4oKJanuary 23, 2025
Meanwhile, Palworld's John 'Bucky' Buckley shares the reveal of Pocketpair Publishing with an announcement of his new role as communications director and publishing manager at Pocketpair. He teases: "BIG things coming… we've been working on this for so long! Stay tuned for MORE!"
As for the horror game itself, it doesn't seem like we'll have too long to wait to see what it's all about. In a news post on the Pocketpair website, it's revealed that it's "scheduled to release in 2025." For now, no synopsis, gameplay, or even name has been shared, but if it stays on track to launch this year, more news can't be too far away.
In the meantime, be sure to check out our roundup of new games releasing this year and beyond.
