Pocketpair

Pocketpair, Inc. is a Japanese video game developer and publisher based in Higashi-Gotanda, Tokyo. Founded in 2015 by Takuro Mizobe, the studio initially focused on independent development, releasing its first title, Overdungeon, a roguelike deck-builder, in 2019. This was followed by Craftopia, an open-world survival crafting game, in 2020, which helped establish the company's reputation for blending disparate genres. In 2021, Pocketpair announced Palworld, a game that combines monster collecting with survival mechanics, often described as "Pokémon with guns." After a lengthy early access period that began in January 2024, Palworld reached its full 1.0 release in 2026, following five years of development. The game achieved massive success, sustaining over 500,000 concurrent Steam players as of August 2026, solidifying Pocketpair's position in the survival-crafting genre.

Beyond development, Pocketpair has expanded into publishing through its Pocketpair Publishing division. In July 2026, the company announced Clicky Islands, an incremental city-builder featuring Factorio-style automation, which was made available for free on Steam for testing. The studio is also extending the Palworld IP with Palworld Online, an MMO scheduled for release later in 2026, and a mobile version developed in partnership with publisher Garena. These moves indicate a strategic shift toward building a broader ecosystem around its flagship franchise.

The company has faced scrutiny over the similarities between Palworld and the Pokémon franchise, including accusations of copyright infringement. While legal issues were discussed publicly, no definitive court rulings have halted the game's progress. Pocketpair has maintained a low-profile approach, focusing on rapid content updates and community engagement. Recent patches, such as the v1.0.3 update in August 2026, addressed bug fixes and balancing changes, reflecting the studio's commitment to long-term support. [edit]