Pocketpair, the Japanese developer behind the hit game Palworld, has announced a partnership with Sony to form a new company called Palworld Entertainment.

The new venture, which will be led by Pocketpair CEO Takuro Mizobe, is not an acquisition by Sony but rather a joint endeavour focused on expanding the global reach of the Palworld intellectual property.

Palworld Entertainment was launched in collaboration with Aniplex, a Japanese subsidiary of Sony that specialises in anime production and distribution. The company's primary responsibilities will be to oversee the development of Palworld-branded merchandise and manage the game's licensing and merchandising activities worldwide, outside of the core interactive gaming experience.

While all details are yet to be revealed, there are indications that Pocketpair and Sony may also be exploring the possibility of adapting Palworld into an anime series. However, the immediate focus for Palworld Entertainment will be on creating and selling Palworld-themed merchandise, with the first products slated to debut at the upcoming Bilibili World 2024 event in Shanghai.

"Palworld has captured the imagination of millions of players around the world since its launch earlier this year," said Mizobe. "This new partnership with Sony allows us to expand the Palworld brand and bring the unique world and characters to fans in new and exciting ways."