Pocketpair, the company behind the massively successful monster-catching adventure game Palworld, has announced the establishment of Pocketpair Publishing, a new indie game publishing label. This move marks a significant expansion of the company's reach into the gaming industry, leveraging its financial success to support small studios and independent developers.

Palworld, which sold an impressive 15 million copies in its first month, has provided Pocketpair with the resources to invest in this new venture. According to the company's press release, Pocketpair Publishing will offer comprehensive support to indie game developers, including funding, development assistance, and publishing services. This comprehensive approach aims to ease the challenges faced by small studios and creators, allowing them to focus on bringing their unique visions to life.

The first game to be published under the Pocketpair Publishing label will be a horror title developed by Surgent Studios, founded by video game voice performer and on-screen actor Abubakar Salim. Notably, Surgent Studios had to furlough its games division due to lack of funding, a common issue faced by many indie developers in recent years. The partnership with Pocketpair Publishing provides a much-needed lifeline for the studio, enabling them to continue working on their projects.

The indie game space has been severely impacted by the ongoing layoff crisis in the gaming industry. Large publishers, which typically provide funding to smaller studios, are becoming increasingly risk-averse, opting to invest only in projects with a high potential for commercial success. Even publishers known for supporting quality indie games, such as Annapurna Games, are struggling to stay afloat. In this context, Pocketpair Publishing's entry into the market is a welcome development, offering a new avenue for indie developers to access the resources they need to succeed.

Pocketpair Publishing joins a growing trend of non-traditional companies entering the indie game space. In 2022, YouTube video game critic and content creator videogamedunkey established Bigmode, which published its first game, Animal Well, to critical acclaim last year. Similarly, Innersloth, the developers of Among Us, launched Outersloth, an indie game fund, in 2022. These new players are leveraging their commercial success to create opportunities for more innovative and creative indie games to be developed and published.

According to John Buckley, head of Pocketpair Publishing, the company's goal is to provide an environment where creators can pursue their dreams without being hindered by the challenges of game development. With its financial resources and industry expertise, Pocketpair Publishing is well-positioned to make a significant impact in the indie game space, fostering a new wave of innovative and creative titles.

As the gaming industry continues to evolve, the emergence of Pocketpair Publishing serves as a reminder that success can be a powerful catalyst for positive change. By supporting small studios and indie developers, Pocketpair Publishing has the potential to bring fresh perspectives and ideas to the gaming landscape, ultimately enriching the gaming experience for players around the world.