John Buckley - Softonic English

A former business director of Square Enix claims that players do not care about the use of AI in video games

Jacob Navok, former business director of Square Enix, has defended the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in video game development, stating that the new generations of players do not seem to care significantly about this technology. In a recent statement, Navok argued that most players “do not care” about the use of AI and cited the commercial success of Arc Raiders, a title that prominently uses AI in its production. It knows users better than the users themselves The development of Arc Raiders by Embark Studios has been the subject of comments […]

Jacob Navok, former business director of Square Enix, has defended the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in video game development, stating that the new generations of players do not seem to care significantly about this technology. In a recent statement, Navok argued that most players “do not care” about the use of AI and cited the commercial success of Arc Raiders, a title that prominently uses AI in its production.

Get to know users better than the users themselves

The development of Arc Raiders by Embark Studios has been the subject of polarized comments, especially due to its use of AI-generated voices. Despite having the resources to hire real voice actors, Embark has opted for a combination of recordings and text-to-speech technology in various aspects of its production process. This does not imply, according to its co-founders, the intention to replace actors.

However, not everyone in the industry shares Navok’s enthusiasm. Critical voices, such as John Buckley from Pocketpair, have questioned the value of generative AI in terms of creating game mechanics, suggesting that it represents a flawed approach. Despite this, companies like EA and Take-Two have expressed their interest in AI, committing to adopt it cautiously and with a balanced approach.

The debate over AI remains divisive, with a large number of developers and organizations expressing concerns about the unauthorized use of their intellectual property. Groups representing major names in the video game and anime industry, such as Studio Ghibli and Square Enix, have urged AI companies to avoid the misuse of their intellectual property.

As technology advances, the question of whether generative AI will become a staple in video game development or generate more resistance will remain a hot topic in the gaming community.

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If you work with generative AI, one of the most successful studies of the last decade doesn't want to know anything about you

Pocketpair Publishing, a prominent studio in the world of video games, has made the firm decision not to implement generative artificial intelligence in its projects. This approach, advocated by its director, John Buckley, highlights the studio’s commitment to creativity and human work in the face of technological trends that are gaining ground in the industry. In this sense, Pocketpair distances itself from the growing practice of using generative AI, an option they have considered harmful to the future of the sector. At Pocketpair, they draw the red lines on AI In 2024, Pocketpair faced accusations of using generative AI in […]

Pocketpair Publishing, a prominent studio in the world of video games, has made the firm decision not to implement generative artificial intelligence in its projects. This approach, advocated by its director, John Buckley, highlights the studio’s commitment to creativity and human work in the face of technological trends that are gaining ground in the industry. In this regard, Pocketpair distances itself from the growing practice of using generative AI, an option they have deemed harmful to the future of the sector.

At Pocketpair, they set the red lines in AI

In 2024, Pocketpair faced accusations of using generative AI in its title Palworld, which were quickly denied. The studio defended its use of traditional development methods and chose not to fuel the debate on social media regarding these accusations. According to Buckley, this experience has shaped the philosophy of its new publishing division, which will focus exclusively on projects that do not use generative artificial intelligence, positioning itself as an ally of creative authenticity.

Pocketpair’s decision is reflected in its selectivity in choosing which games to invest in. Buckley emphasizes that the publishing division will only support projects that do not rely on AI, acknowledging the challenges that this technology is expected to bring to the sector. “In the coming years, we are going to enter a strange era, where there will be an increase in low-quality AI-generated games,” he explained, echoing the concerns that many developers have expressed about the potential of AI to degrade the quality standard in the market, particularly on platforms like Steam.

Thus, Pocketpair stands as a voice against excessive automation in video game creation, highlighting the importance of the human touch in an industry that, although constantly evolving, must not lose its creative essence.

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The creators of Palworld fear that you don't know a game they love and have made a pack for you to buy it during the Steam sales

During the Steam Autumn Sale 2025, players have the opportunity to acquire Palworld and Core Keeper in a bundle with an attractive 31% discount. This move is an initiative by the studio Pocketpair, creators of Palworld, who seek to support other developers by including Core Keeper in this bundle. Pocketpair has achieved notable success with its title Palworld and has taken a step forward by establishing a publishing company aimed at helping independent developers find an audience for their games. It has never been cheaper to get Core Keeper John ‘Bucky’ Buckley, communications director […]

During the Steam Autumn Sale 2025, players have the opportunity to acquire Palworld and Core Keeper in a bundle with an attractive 31% discount. This move is an initiative by the studio Pocketpair, creators of Palworld, who seek to support other developers by including Core Keeper in this bundle. Pocketpair has achieved notable success with its title Palworld and has taken a step forward by establishing a publishing company aimed at helping independent developers find an audience for their games.

It has never been cheaper to get Core Keeper

John ‘Bucky’ Buckley, director of communications at Palworld, has highlighted the quality of Core Keeper, considering it one of the best games available on Steam. In a post on Twitter, Buckley urged players to try Core Keeper, stating that “there are no excuses” not to do so. Additionally, the bundle allows those who already own one of the two games to access the second at a reduced price, adding extra value to the offer.

This effort not only reflects Pocketpair’s philosophy of being “big fans” of the indie development community, but also shows their desire to “pay it forward” after enjoying their own success. Buckley complemented his message with a personal anecdote, recalling a discouraging comment from a teacher in his youth who predicted a complicated future for him in the industry. His current achievement, symbolized by inclusion in one of the most exciting bundles of the year, highlights a positive outcome for someone who was once underestimated.

This type of initiative highlights the solidarity among developers in a competitive and challenging environment, where making a game is more complicated than ever. The collaboration between studios like Pocketpair and others, such as the team behind Core Keeper, represents a beacon of hope for independent developers in 2025.

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The creators of Palworld say they are not worried about their finances

Pocketpair, the developer behind the popular game Palworld, is in a strong financial position that allows it to take significant risks in the development of new projects. According to their community manager, John Buckley, despite being “terrible” at managing their reserves, the company feels financially comfortable thanks to the “healthy generation” of revenue that Palworld has generated. This allows them to invest significantly in expansion and hiring, something necessary to meet the growing demand for their game catalog. A business strategy based on vibes During an interview at GDC 2025, Buckley shared […]

Pocketpair, the developer behind the popular game Palworld, is in a strong financial position that allows it to take significant risks in the development of new projects. According to their community manager, John Buckley, despite being “terrible” at managing their reserves, the company feels financially comfortable thanks to the “healthy generation” of revenue that Palworld has generated. This allows them to invest significantly in expansion and hiring, which is necessary to meet the growing demand for their game catalog.

A business strategy based on vibes

During an interview at GDC 2025, Buckley shared that the company has chosen not to set clear budgets for the release of new titles. “We are simply spending money until we feel we need to stop and wait to see what happens,” he stated. This approach, although risky, seems to be working in the company’s favor, as they have been able to explore innovative ideas without the immediate concern of costs.

Pocketpair has announced a new truck simulation game, highlighting its ability to undertake experimental developments thanks to its stable financial situation. Buckley also mentioned that shortly after the release of Palworld, they began to receive proposals for games from “big names”, reflecting the instant success the company has achieved in the industry.

Despite his inexperience in financial management, Buckley was optimistic about the future of Pocketpair. “Our CEO is an incredibly smart guy, and I’m sure that even if we spend more than we should, we’ve saved enough to stay afloat for a while,” concluded the community manager, suggesting that the company’s ability to improvise could be a strategic advantage in the competitive world of video games.

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Palworld has received many offers to be adapted into film and television

Palworld has become an unprecedented phenomenon, achieving the milestone of over 2 million concurrent players on Steam, a feat that had only been previously reached by PUBG. This impressive growth has drawn attention to the developer Pocketpair, who now faces multiple allegations, ranging from misuse of artificial intelligence and plagiarism to player abuse and a patent lawsuit from Nintendo. Although they have had many discussions, nothing is clear yet. Despite the controversies, the success of Palworld has not gone unnoticed by the […]

Palworld has become an unprecedented phenomenon, achieving the milestone of over 2 million concurrent players on Steam, a feat that had only been previously reached by PUBG. This impressive growth has drawn attention to the developer Pocketpair, who is now facing multiple allegations, ranging from the misuse of artificial intelligence and plagiarism, to player abuse and a patent lawsuit from Nintendo.

Although they have had many conversations, nothing is clear yet

Despite the controversies, the success of Palworld has not gone unnoticed by the entertainment industry. According to John “Bucky” Buckley, director of communications for Palworld, numerous proposals have been received for the creation of movies, television series, and merchandise related to the game. During a recent event at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, Buckley mentioned that in a very short time, ideas were presented for almost everything imaginable around the franchise.

Still, although they have had “many conversations” about the potential for a series or movie, Buckley clarified that there is currently no concrete news on the matter. “Nothing is happening at the moment,” he stated, although he left the door open for fans to expect something in the future.

In a strategic move, Pocketpair formed a joint venture with Aniplex, one of the leading anime companies in the world, with the aim of developing merchandise related to Palworld. Buckley expressed his enthusiasm for this collaboration, noting that, at least for now, the focus is on merchandising before considering adaptations to media such as television or film.

With the growing interest in the franchise, it is evident that Palworld fans are eagerly awaiting more news about possible adaptations to other formats in the future.

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The creators of Palworld confess that they never thought they would be sued by Nintendo

Nintendo has made headlines recently by filing a patent infringement lawsuit against the developer Pocketpair, regarding their popular game Palworld. This news has taken many by surprise, including the members of Pocketpair themselves, who stated that “no one thought” about patent issues after conducting legal checks before the launch in Japan. Some naive statements, at best. In a recent developer conference, John ‘Bucky’ Buckley, communications director of Pocketpair, shared the difficulties the team has faced post-launch. The lawsuit has created an atmosphere of stress and sadness among […]

Naive statements, at best

In a recent developer conference, John ‘Bucky’ Buckley, communications director of Pocketpair, shared the difficulties the team has faced post-launch. The demand has created an environment of stress and sadness among the developers, who felt disillusioned by the situation. “It was a pretty depressing day. Many of us went home with our heads down,” Buckley commented, referring to the internal reaction of the team after learning about the demand.

In the context of the controversy, Pocketpair has received threats of violence, which has led the company to take additional security measures and even modify its participation in major events like the Tokyo Game Show. Buckley also indicated that some game updates have sought to distance themselves from certain mechanics that resemble what Nintendo has patented, although the company continues to face image problems and pressure from fans.

On the other hand, Nintendo’s lawsuit also has broader legal implications, as it has been reported that the company is pursuing a patent in the U.S. that could connect with the original allegations. Buckley reflected on the current situation, suggesting that “very few companies could survive” a similar crisis, where the combination of threats, pressure, and negativity could result in the collapse of a less resilient studio. The gaming community and developers remain attentive to how this matter will evolve in the coming months.

Palworld DOWNLOAD

Palworld is an action game for PC developed by Pocketpair. In this multiplayer adventure and open-world game, players can explore a vast land filled with creatures called Pal. They can be tamed, sold, made to help in battles, among other things—the choice is up to the player.