Palworld and No Man's Sky are intensifying their months-long flirtation, and if those two don't just kiss already, I'm going to lose my mind

Last week, Pocketpair head of publishing and communications John Bucky Buckley addressed fans about Palworld's collaboration strategy, stating that the company had rejected or abandoned many potential partnerships due to perceived mismatches. This response seems to have captured the attention of No Man's Sky creator Hello Games, escalating a flirtatious game of cross-platform chemistry that had been brewing between the two studios for months.

On August 18, 2026, Hello Games founder Sean Murray tagged Pocketpair's communications head Buckley with an emphatic "Bro @Bucky_cm bro @Bucky_cm brooooooooooo ❤️", marking the most direct acknowledgment of a potential collaboration. Buckley responded with even more intense enthusiasm, typing "SEAN!" in all caps, and inviting Murray to communicate directly about a possible partnership.

The flirtation between the two developers intensified in April 2026 when Murray hinted that No Man's Sky might join Palworld in the ranks of Pokémon-likes with its upcoming creature battling update. Buckley urged Murray to "email me, my man," expressing excitement about a potential collaboration but to no avail. Murray later revealed the No Man's Sky Xeno Arena update, to which Buckley replied with another all-caps "SEAN!" and a picture of a surprised prehistoric fish.

While Hello Games celebrated Palworld's 1.0 release and subsequent success, Pocketpair's advances remained unreturned until recently. Buckley responded to Murray's acknowledgment with a quote from Eminem's Stan, expressing frustration that he had written Hello Games but received no response. Murray quoted the song's closing lyrics in response, further lightening the mood. The tension between the two studios continues, leaving fans eagerly awaiting a definitive announcement.