Tencent hints progression on making Palworld style games for mobile
Tencent, a powerhouse in the gaming world, has set its sights on replicating the success of the viral sensation Palworld with not just one, but two mobile games. According to Bloomberg, Tencent's TiMi and Lightspeed studios are hard at work developing these games, aiming to capture the magic of Palworld's popularity. This move underscores Tencent's quest for a "mega-hit" in the mobile gaming sphere.
As per Bloomberg's report, both TiMi Studio Group and Lightspeed are diving into the realm of genre-blending games akin to Palworld, featuring elements like pet companions and stylized violence. TiMi Studio Group boasts a track record of successful mobile titles, including heavy hitters like Call of Duty: Mobile, Pokémon UNITE, Honor of Kings, and Arena of Valor. Meanwhile, Lightspeed is renowned for its collaboration with Krafton in co-developing PUBG Mobile.
Palworld made waves in terms of financial success shortly after its launch in January. The game sold one million copies within the first hours, followed by an impressive four million within the initial three days. By the sixth day, it had amassed a staggering eight million sales on Steam alone. Pocketpair CEO Takuro Mizobe revealed to Bloomberg that the company has raked in tens of billions of yen in profit from Palworld, a figure that has proven challenging for a studio of their size to manage.
When a game generates such staggering profits that its developer struggles to manage them, it's bound to draw the attention of other publishers and developers eager to try their hand at a similar genre. Chinese developer Manjuu Network Technology, for instance, is crafting an Azur Lane spinoff that blends elements of Genshin Impact with Palworld.
According to sources cited by Bloomberg, Tencent is currently nurturing multiple competing projects in an effort to yield the best possible results—ironically resembling the way players nurture their Pals in Palworld. These new titles from Tencent are expected to merge open-world exploration, survival mechanics, crafting elements, and the care of virtual pets.