Pocketpair, the developer behind the hit game Palworld, is expanding into the publishing realm with the establishment of Pocketpair Publishing. Their first venture into publishing will be supporting Surgent Studios, known for their debut title *Tales of Kenzera: Zau*, in creating a brand new horror game. This upcoming game will not be a continuation of the *Tales of Kenzera* universe but rather a standalone project.
Surgent Studios' CEO, Abubakar Salim, shared insights on the new 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 also mentioned ongoing discussions about further projects within the *Tales of Kenzera* universe, indicating that this horror game serves as a "mile marker" between past achievements and future endeavors. No specific release window or title has been announced for the horror game, suggesting it is still in the early stages of development. This project is separate from the previously mentioned *Project Uso* by Surgent Studios.
Pocketpair Publishing is not only supporting Surgent Studios but is also open to pitches from other developers. Their approach is to foster an environment where creators can pursue their dreams without compromising their vision. John Buckley, Head of Pocketpair Publishing, emphasized their commitment, saying, "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 also expressed enthusiasm about their partnership with Surgent Studios, stating, "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 has also made a name for himself as an actor in projects like *Assassin's Creed Origins*, *House of the Dragon*, and *Tales of Kenzera: Zau*, expressed his gratitude for the partnership, saying, "It's an incredible honor to be Pocketpair Publishing's first partner. 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* itself is a single-player Metroidvania game that delves into themes of grief and love, receiving a commendable 7/10 in IGN's review. The review praised the game for its moving narrative about coping with loss, though it noted that the action mechanics were not groundbreaking within the genre.
Despite its positive reception, *Tales of Kenzera: Zau* did not achieve the commercial success hoped for, leading Surgent Studios to announce layoffs in July and further redundancy notices in October due to funding issues. The support from Pocketpair Publishing could be crucial for the studio's future projects.
Meanwhile, Pocketpair continues to navigate legal challenges, as it faces a patent infringement lawsuit from The Pokémon Company and Nintendo following the record-breaking sales of *Palworld*.
