Palworld funny guy John Buckley threatens more April Fool's shenanigans, but I'm not joking when I say we need that Palworld dating sim

Pocketpair publishing lead John "Bucky" Buckley seems to be teasing an incoming April Fool's joke, but if I've learned anything from Palworld April Fool's jokes, it's that they're often not jokes at all.

For April Fool's Day 2024, Pocketpair revealed an anime-inspired Palworld dating sim visual novel. Everyone laughed and then dismissed it as an obvious April Fool's Day joke, but then a year later, just in time for the 2025 holiday, Pal♡world! ~More Than Just Pals~ got a Steam page with an expanded gameplay trailer strongly suggesting that this thing is 100% real. After all, it's very unlikely that Valve would approve a game on its storefront that doesn't actually exist as a prank. There's even system requirements and everything.

Anyway, April Fool's Day is upon us once again, and Bucky is teasing more shenanigans. It's unclear if Pocketpair will do anything related to the dating sim, but it would be an iconic move if it surprise-dropped the game on April 1.

"Any comical annual customs coming up any time soon? Asking for a pal," Bucky wrote on Twitter. He also responded to a fan speculating that the studio's April Fool's Day plans might be dating sim-related, declining to confirm or deny anything but leaving a suggestive monkey covering its eyes emoji.

According to the game's Steam description, you play as a transfer student enrolled in the prestigious Palpagos Private Academy, where you'll meet all sorts of unique - read, anthropomorphic - friends who may or may not become "more than just pals."

"It's up to you whether you stay friends with the pals, develop romantic relationships with them, or even dismember and eat them," says Pocketpair.

There's no release date yet, but I'm starting to think we're about to learn a lot more in a few days.

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