Palworld Developer Defends Indie Status For Expedition 33

The debate over what makes a video game truly independent is heating up once again. John Buckley, who handles publishing and communications for Pocketpair, recently shared his thoughts on social media about how the industry defines indie studios. He pointed out that getting help with marketing or funding should not automatically push a team out of the independent category.

Buckley used his own studio as an example. Pocketpair views itself as an indie team because they are completely self funded and answer to no outside investors. Even though their breakout hit Palworld brought massive commercial success and a larger staff, their core independence remains intact.

This conversation has major implications for upcoming titles like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Fans and creators continue to debate where the line is drawn when external publishers step in to help smaller teams reach wider audiences. For now, creators like Buckley are pushing for a definition based on creative freedom rather than bank accounts.