Last week, Pocketpair’s head of publishing and communications, John ‘Bucky’ Buckley, shared a candid update with the Palworld community regarding the developer’s collaboration strategy. In a surprising move, he revealed that the team had rejected or scrapped numerous collaboration opportunities due to perceived mismatches.

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This disclosure caught the attention of No Man’s Sky developer, Hello Games, and sparked an intense game of crossover ‘footsie’ between the two studios’ public figureheads. The flirtation, which has been ongoing for over a year, has been building up to a dramatic climax.

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A Year of Will-They-Won’t-They?

The ‘will-they-won’t-they’ romance between Palworld and No Man’s Sky began when Hello Games founder, Sean Murray, expressed his admiration for Palworld’s Terraria crossover announcement in June 2025. In response, Bucky posted an all-caps ‘SEAN!’ – a move that left fans wondering if the two studios were secretly working on a collaboration.

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The tension simmered until April 2026, when the flirtation became more explicit. After Murray hinted that No Man’s Sky was joining Palworld in the ranks of Pokémon-like games with its upcoming creature battling update, Bucky replied with an enthusiastic ’email me, my man.’ However, it seems that the overture went unacknowledged.

The Palworld community has been eagerly awaiting a collaboration announcement from the two studios, but it seems that their patience is finally being rewarded.

A Corny Exchange

After Sean Murray’s long-awaited acknowledgment of the will-they-won’t-they romance, Bucky responded with a quote from Eminem’s ‘Stan,’ saying, ‘Dear @NoMansSky, I wrote you, but you still ain’t callin… I left my cell, my pager, and my home phone at the bottom… I sent two letters back in autumn, you must not’ve got ’em.’

Murray continued the exchange, quoting the song’s closing lyrics: ‘Come to think about it, his name was… it was you,’ he posted. ‘Damn….’

The exchange has left fans of both games excited and wondering if a collaboration is finally on the horizon.

A Potential Collaboration?

While the two games have different genres and gameplay styles, a potential collaboration could bring a unique and exciting experience to fans. A few Palworld-themed cosmetics or decorations in No Man’s Sky, or some No Man’s Sky creatures in a collab-themed Palworld dungeon, could be a great starting point for a crossover.

Only time will tell if the two studios will finally pull the trigger and announce a collaboration. One thing is certain, though – the Palworld and No Man’s Sky romance has left fans breathless and eagerly awaiting the next chapter in this exciting saga.