The ongoing, months-long public flirtation between the developers of Palworld and No Man's Sky has reached new heights, with representatives from both studios exchanging increasingly amorous messages that now involve quoting lyrics from Eminem's "Stan."
The latest exchange began when John "Bucky" Buckley, head of publishing and communications at Pocketpair, addressed player discussions about Palworld's collaboration strategy, revealing that the studio had turned down numerous potential crossovers. This statement caught the attention of Hello Games founder Sean Murray.
Murray publicly acknowledged the discourse by quoting a post about it and tagging Buckley with a simple, yet emphatic, "Bro @Bucky_cm bro @Bucky_cm brooooooooooo ❤️." This marked a significant public acknowledgment of a dynamic that has been building for over a year. While the two developers had previously maintained a friendly rapport online, Buckley had repeatedly expressed Pocketpair's interest in a collaboration with No Man's Sky, particularly after Murray praised Palworld's crossover with Terraria in June 2025.
Initially, the interactions were more subtle. However, by April 2026, the flirtation became more direct. Following hints from Murray that No Man's Sky would introduce creature battling mechanics, akin to Pokémon-likes, Buckley urged him to "email me, my man," suggesting a "FUN COLLAB IDEA." This overture appeared to go unacknowledged by Murray at the time. When No Man's Sky later revealed its Xeno Arena update, Buckley responded with an all-caps "S E A N" and a humorous post of a surprised-looking prehistoric fish.
Despite Hello Games celebrating Palworld's 1.0 release in July 2026, Pocketpair's collaboration advances remained unreciprocated until Murray's recent "bro" messages.
In response to Murray's long-awaited acknowledgment, Buckley adopted a playful, yet poignant, approach by quoting lyrics from Eminem's "Stan." He posted, "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 song reference, replying with the closing lines, "Come to think about it, his name was… it was you," he posted. "Damn…"
While the specifics of a potential collaboration remain speculative, ranging from Palworld-themed cosmetics in No Man's Sky to new creatures in Palworld dungeons, the ongoing public courtship between the two studios has captivated fans and generated considerable online discussion.