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

Palworld developer Pocketpair is branching out, establishing Pocketpair Publishing to support independent game development. Their first published title will be a new horror game from Surgent Studios, the creators of Tales of Kenzera: Zau. This new project marks a departure from the Tales of Kenzera universe, offering a standalone experience described as "short and weird."

Surgent Studios CEO Abubakar Salim, also known for his acting roles (including Bayek in Assassin's Creed Origins), explained the collaboration: "We noticed a pattern in the entertainment industry, and Pocketpair has given us the opportunity to make a horror game about it. Both Surgent and Pocketpair are well versed in taking risks." He confirmed 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 announced. This project is separate from Surgent Studios' previously announced Project Uso.

Pocketpair Publishing is actively seeking out new development partners, emphasizing a collaborative and supportive approach. Their website states: "We don't want to tell you what to do. We don’t want to take control from you. We don’t want to change your dream or push you to make a certain type of game."

John Buckley, Head of Pocketpair Publishing, further elaborated: "At Pocketpair, there is nothing we love more than games, and Pocketpair Publishing is our latest venture to help the world enjoy gaming even more. Game development comes with many challenges, but we want to ease that process as much as possible and provide an environment where creators can pursue their dreams." He expressed enthusiasm for partnering with Surgent Studios, highlighting their shared vision and commitment to creative autonomy.

Salim expressed his gratitude for the partnership on X/Twitter, calling it "an incredible honor" and praising the collaborative spirit driving game development in 2025.

Tales of Kenzera: Zau, a Metroidvania exploring themes of grief and love, received a positive 7/10 review from IGN. Despite this positive reception, Surgent Studios faced financial challenges, including layoffs and redundancy notices. The partnership with Pocketpair Publishing offers significant support during this difficult period.

Pocketpair continues to navigate a patent infringement lawsuit from The Pokémon Company and Nintendo, filed following the impressive sales of Palworld.