The creators of “Palworld” are back — this time with a horror game

Pocket Bear, Inc Behind last year’s viral game In the world, He has a new venture: publishing independent games. Its first project, scheduled for release later this year, will be a yet-to-be-titled horror game from Surgent Studios, the developer behind the 2024 game. Tales of Kenzira: Zao.

In the worldjokingly referred to as “Pokemon with guns“, was a huge success last year, attracting more than 25 million players The first few months. The company’s move to publish in A Troubled time for video games, Especially small studios; last year, Between us The developer, Innersloth, announced the same Go to publishing To help move projects forward. Pocket pairs In the world Success seems to be allowing them to do the same.

“As the gaming industry continues to grow, more and more games are finding themselves struggling to get funding or get the green light,” John Buckley, president of Pocketpair Publishing, said in a press release announcing the new division. “We think that’s a real shame, because there are so many great creators and ideas that just need a little help to become amazing games.”

It’s no surprise, then, that Pocketpair works with Surgent Studios, which has already done just that I struggled to find financing After release wide. The developer shut down its team last year as it looked for a partner for its next project Kenzira The game currently known as Osu Project.

Surgent’s deal with Pocketpair is separate from is usedfounder Abu Bakr Salem tells WIRED. In contrast to Afrofuturism widewill be a horror title that aims to introduce players to something new. “We’re taking a little detour from Kenzira Tales The universe says sound.

Salem adds that the horror genre “is a fascinating space that exploits primal emotions, immersing audiences in a reality that is far from their own but hits something deep and dark within us all.” Pocketpair and Surgent provided few details about the game in Thursday’s announcement, other than calling it “short and weird.”

“The world is so raw right now, and it’s only natural that we create an experience that reflects and feeds that intensity,” Salem says.

Pocketpair Publishing has not announced any other future projects. The company has been embroiled in legal drama since last year, when Nintendo… I filed a lawsuit In Tokyo it claims In the world Its copyright has been violated. Nintendo did not respond to a request for comment. When asked if the lawsuit worried Surgent, Salem said the studio wasn’t worried. “We’re really excited to be working with their new publishing wing to bring this game to life,” he says.