The maker of Xbox Game Pass stalwart<\/a> Palworld<\/em> said on Wednesday it\u2019s forming a new company in partnership with\u2026 Sony. Palworld<\/em> developer and publisher Pocketpair announced<\/a> its new team-up with Sony Music Entertainment to create Palworld Entertainment, Inc. The joint venture\u2019s stated purpose: \u201caccelerating the multifaceted global development of Palworld and its further expansion,\u201d which sounds like corporate-speak for \u201cmerch, baby.\u201d<\/p>\n The deal includes Sony Music Entertainment, Inc. and anime studio and game publisher Aniplex, Inc., both part of the broader Sony Corporation. Pocketpair says Palworld<\/em> merchandise will soon be available for pre-order at Aniplex Online<\/a>.<\/p>\n The joint venture\u2019s new website describes<\/a> the newly formed Palworld Entertainment, Inc. as handling Palworld<\/em>\u2019s licensing operations. \u201cWe are responsible for various domestic and international licensing operations for the Pocketpair game Palworld<\/em>, with the aim of accelerating the multifaceted development of Palworld and further expanding the IP,\u201d according to the website\u2019s About section.<\/p>\n A press release added that the conglomerate will aim to develop the IP\u2019s reach and expand \u201ccommercial business endeavors.\u201d In other words, there\u2019s money to be made here, and capitalize, they will.<\/p>\n When Palworld<\/em> launched in Early Access<\/a> in January, many in the gaming industry speculated Nintendo would sue it into oblivion. The game, which sold over a million copies in eight hours<\/a> and exceeded<\/a> 25 million players within its first month, isn\u2019t subtle about its Pok\u00e9mon influence. It includes nearly 1:1 likenesses of some of the longstanding franchise\u2019s creatures, which the player \u2014\u00a0yes \u2014 collects and battles. But so far, The Pok\u00e9mon Company has held back its lawyers. We can only speculate about its reasons, but fears of alienating fans of a beloved new game or worries about parody and fair use protections could be possibilities.<\/p>\n You can\u2019t make up the irony of the newly established alliance, as the Pok\u00e9mon Company was established as a similar joint venture between Nintendo, Game Freak and Creatures in 1998. Well-played, Sony.<\/p>\n Palworld Entertainment says it will kick off its new licensing push with a series of \u201cexclusive merchandise based on the game.\u201d The joint venture will debut its new lineup of goods (plushies, perhaps?) at Bilibili World 2024, which kicks off in two days in Shanghai, China.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n