adminPocketpair indie publishing deals are set to offer smaller studios an alternative to agreements that can require developers to give up a large share of revenue. The company says the commercial success of Palworld has put it in a position to fund independent projects without relying on the same level of revenue recovery demanded by some publishers.
Image credit: Pocketpair
How Palworld’s success shaped Pocketpair indie publishing deals
Speaking about the company’s publishing plans, Pocketpair head of communications and publishing John Buckley said that the studio had spent years making games that brought in enough to support its next project. That experience, he explained, made the team familiar with the financial difficulties smaller developers can face.
After Palworld launched, developers began contacting Pocketpair with ideas for their games. The company had not previously operated as a publisher: its own titles had largely been self-published, and it initially questioned whether it had the experience and resources to support other studios.
Conversations with small development teams also highlighted how much revenue some creators expected to surrender under standard publishing arrangements. Buckley said Pocketpair was surprised that teams seeking relatively modest funding could be asked to give up revenue for an extended period.
What Pocketpair says its publishing model will change
Pocketpair says it can offer funding while asking for a smaller share of a game’s revenue. Its stated goal is to help developers earn money from earlier sales, rather than needing to reach a much higher sales threshold before they can benefit financially.
For indie teams assessing a publishing offer, the revenue split is only one part of the agreement. It is also useful to review how long the publisher participates in revenue, which costs must be recouped, and what rights or responsibilities are included. The specific terms of any Pocketpair deal will depend on the agreement offered to each studio.
Pocketpair launched its publishing arm in January 2025. The company’s ability to support external projects follows the strong performance of its own games, particularly Palworld.
Palworld’s reach and the legal dispute
Palworld launched in January 2024 and reached 25 million players during its first month. That figure included 15 million sales on Steam and 10 million players on Xbox, including people playing through the Game Pass subscription service.
In September 2024, The Pokémon Company and Nintendo sued Pocketpair over alleged similarities between Palworld and their pocket-monster properties. The claim concerns alleged similarities; it should not be treated as a finding that infringement occurred.
What the approach could mean for indie developers
Pocketpair’s proposal may give independent studios another option when seeking funding and publishing support. Fairer revenue terms can help small teams retain more of the income from their work, though developers should assess the complete contract and compare offers before signing.
Ultimately, Pocketpair indie publishing deals reflect the company’s stated intention to use the success of Palworld to support other developers. Whether that approach becomes a meaningful alternative will depend on the terms and support provided for individual games.
