Palworld Developer Pocketpair announced on Tuesday Palworld Entertainment, a brand new company formed with Sony Music Entertainment and its anime subsidiary Aniplex. Palworld Entertainment was established “with the aim of accelerating the multifaceted global development of Palworld and its further expansion,” according to a message from the official Palworld X account.
On Palworld Entertainment’s website, the company is described as responsible for the “domestic and international licensing” for Palworld and to expand its intellectual property. Pocketpair CEO Takuro Mizobe will also lead the new company. The first initiative is to launch new merchandise that will be sold on the Aniplex website, according to a press release.
Before we get into what this deal could bring, let’s first talk about what this deal entails. not: That doesn’t necessarily mean Palworld is coming directly to PlayStation consoles. A Palworld community manager plagued something with PlayStation in June, a message on X that was interpreted by many as meaning Palworld would come to PlayStation consoles. While it is likely Palworld coming to the PlayStation 5, that is not part of this announcement or collaboration.
What we Doing What is known is that Palworld Entertainment will be releasing new merchandise, but what is not mentioned is what an extension of its IP might look like. Despite its name, Sony Music Entertainment is not just in the music business. It also owns Aniplex (mentioned as part of the joint venture), a Japanese entertainment and media company that specializes in anime. Aniplex has produced tons of popular anime, including Demon Hunter: Kimetsu no YaibaCells at work! And Full Metal AlchemistIt also owns anime distribution platform Crunchyroll alongside Sony Pictures Entertainment And publishes video games such as free-to-play mobile games Lot/Grand Order.
Does this mean Palworld could this be made into an anime series or movie? Maybe! Aniplex has experience in making games based on anime: it has produced anime based on Persona, Lot/Grand Orderand Ace Attorney, among others. Polygon has contacted Pocketpair for more information.
Palworld Pokémon Inc. has had a hard time shaking off comparisons to Pokémon — it’s often described as “Pokémon with weapons” — and this kind of deal is likely to widen the similarities even further. The Pokémon Company has had enormous success with Pokémon as a global franchise that goes beyond games: Everyone knows Pikachu. But who wouldn’t want their brand to follow that kind of path? Few brands can even begin to emulate Pokémon, and if anyone wants to, it’s a good thing Palworld: Palworld sold a whopping 25 million copies across multiple platforms in February, just one month after its release. Pocketpair hasn’t released sales figures since then, but the game has continued to thrive — especially after its most recent update, which launched last week.