Palworld Developer Pocketpair Says No Steam History Means No Interview
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
Palworld developer Pocketpair requires game designer applicants to submit Steam library screenshots, automatically rejecting anyone who does not actively play games on Valve's platform.
Pocketpair is taking a surprisingly blunt approach to building its design team. According to a recent social media post from CEO Takuro Mizobe, spotted by Automaton and reported by IGN South Africa, the studio behind Palworld requires prospective game designers to submit screenshots of their Steam libraries during the initial application phase. If an applicant has spent zero time on Valve's platform, their resume goes straight to the rejection pile.
This filter might sound harsh at first glance, but it makes a lot of sense for a studio that found massive success by understanding what online communities actually want to play. In an industry where major publishers often rely on focus groups and homogenized design trends, Pocketpair is explicitly looking for people who live and breathe PC gaming culture. They want designers who already understand Steam's ecosystem, community nuances, and the rapid pace of digital releases, rather than traditional developers who might be out of touch with how modern players discover and consume games.
For a studio that caught lightning in a bottle by mixing survival crafting with creature collection, keeping developer DNA aligned with actual players is a smart move. As digital economies, community feedback loops, and platform trends dictate the success of modern multiplayer titles, hiring developers who are genuinely active players on the primary PC platform helps bridge the gap between creator and community. If you want to build games that resonate with millions of concurrent users, proving you actually play them is a pretty solid place to start.
Tags: Palworld, Pocketpair, Steam, Game Development, PC Gaming
Original article: IGN South Africa