Last summer, Palworld developer Pocketpair entered into a significant agreement with Sony Music Entertainment, aimed at expanding the Palworld universe beyond gaming through merchandise, music, and other products. This business move, however, sparked rumors among fans who mistakenly believed it signaled an upcoming acquisition, fueled by earlier rumors of Pocketpair being in discussions with Microsoft for a buyout.

Pocketpair CEO Takuro Mizobe later clarified that the acquisition rumors were unfounded, yet the speculation persisted, especially as Microsoft continued to acquire numerous AA studios and reportedly approached Japanese developers, while Sony responded with its own acquisitions.

The question remains: Will Pocketpair ever be acquired? The decision ultimately rests with Mizobe. When I posed this question to Pocketpair's communications director and publishing manager, John 'Bucky' Buckley, at the Game Developers Conference last month, he expressed strong skepticism about the possibility of an acquisition.

"Our CEO would never allow it," Buckley stated emphatically. "He'd never allow it. He'd never allow it. He would never, never allow it. He likes doing his own thing and he likes being his own boss. He doesn't like people telling him what to do."

Buckley elaborated, suggesting that an acquisition might only be considered if Mizobe were much older and looking to cash out, a scenario he finds unlikely in his lifetime. He noted the distinct paths of Pocketpair's game development and the broader IP management, with Aniplex and Sony Music steering the latter while Pocketpair offers input and advice.

In our comprehensive interview, Buckley and I also discussed the potential of Palworld coming to the Nintendo Switch 2, the studio's response to the game being dubbed "Pokemon with guns," and more. You can find the full discussion here.