Palworld Developer Offers “Fairer” Publisher Deals After Being Shocked by Industry Standards

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With a healthy “war chest” provided by Palworld’s earnings, Buckley states the studio is in a position to offer capital to indies without demanding the typical, lopsided revenue-sharing agreements that leave creators struggling.

By implementing “much fairer deals” that prioritize developer sustainability rather than just recouping costs, Pocketpair Publishing aims to ensure studios can survive from their very first sale. This model allows developers to see the financial rewards of their work immediately, rather than waiting years for their bank accounts to reflect their success.

Buckley highlights a non-intrusive approach to publishing, drawing parallels to the investment philosophy of Innersloth, the team behind Among Us. Pocketpair intends to let developers maintain creative autonomy, offering guidance only when requested—unless the contract specifically involves Palworld’s expertise in managing releases within the Asian market.

“Our role is strictly to provide funding. We don’t acquire company stakes, and we don’t take ownership of intellectual property. We are truly hands-off,” Buckley concluded.

Interestingly, Kinetic Games, the developer of Phasmophobia, recently followed a similar path by launching its own publishing division to champion independent creativity, mirroring the steps taken by Pocketpair and Innersloth.

The Palworld developer remains critical of “so-called” AAA gaming, favoring the indie scene for its innovative systems: “Major titles focus excessively on graphical fidelity, whereas indies offer the unique gameplay mechanics you can’t find elsewhere.”