Pocketpair Ventures into Publishing with Tales of Kenzera Dev's Next Game

Pocketpair, the developer behind the hit game Palworld, is expanding its footprint in the gaming industry by venturing into publishing. The newly established Pocketpair Publishing has announced its first collaboration with Surgent Studios, the creators of the acclaimed single-player Metroidvania game, Tales of Kenzera: Zau. This partnership will see Pocketpair Publishing support Surgent Studios in developing a brand-new horror game, marking a significant departure from the universe of Tales of Kenzera.

Surgent Studios' CEO, Abubakar Salim, expressed excitement about the project, stating, "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. This game will be short and weird, and we think players will be interested in what we have to say." Salim emphasized that while they are still in discussions about further projects within the Tales of Kenzera universe, this horror game will stand alone as a significant milestone in their journey.

Details about the horror game, including its title and release window, remain under wraps, indicating that the project is still in its early stages. This endeavor is separate from the previously announced Project Uso concept by Surgent Studios.

Pocketpair Publishing is not only focused on this collaboration but is also actively seeking pitches from other game developers. The company's philosophy is clear: "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," as stated on their website.

John Buckley, Head of Pocketpair Publishing, highlighted their commitment to supporting game developers: "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."

Buckley further expressed enthusiasm about their partnership with Surgent Studios, saying, "We are pleased to be able to support Surgent Studios’ new title as our first step. We deeply sympathize with their original ideas and passion and are honored to help them realize their vision. We will respect the autonomy and vision of developers and work together to make great games for people all over the world."

Abubakar Salim, who also boasts an impressive acting career with roles in Assassin's Creed Origins, House of the Dragon, and as the protagonist in Tales of Kenzera: Zau, shared his pride in being the first partner of Pocketpair Publishing. On X/Twitter, he remarked, "This is the energy I want to see driving games in 2025: developers lifting each other up, creating together, and pushing the industry forward."

Tales of Kenzera: Zau, which explores themes of grief and love, received a positive review from IGN, scoring a 7/10. The game was praised for its emotional narrative, despite its action not being groundbreaking within the Metroidvania genre. However, despite the positive reception, Surgent Studios faced financial difficulties, announcing layoffs in July and further redundancies in October. The support from Pocketpair Publishing could prove vital for the studio's future.

Meanwhile, Pocketpair continues to navigate its own challenges, including a patent infringement lawsuit from The Pokémon Company and Nintendo following the massive success of Palworld.