Palworld Addresses Free-to-Play Rumors

Palworld Addresses Free-to-Play Rumors

Key Takeaways

  • Palworld confirms it will remain buy-to-play, not transitioning to a free-to-play model.
  • The game initially gained popularity post-launch, but its player count has decreased over time.
  • Pocketpair is considering adding paid skins and DLC to support Palworld.

As a seasoned gamer with years of experience under my belt, I must say that the news about Palworld staying buy-to-play is a relief. After witnessing the meteoric rise and fall of many free-to-play games, it’s refreshing to see a developer sticking to their guns (pun intended) and focusing on delivering quality content rather than milking players for every penny.


As an ardent fan, I’m thrilled to share that I’ve got some reassuring news about Palworld! Contrary to whispers suggesting a shift to a free-to-play model, it’s official – the game will continue to be buy-to-play. While there were rumors hinting at a potential change in business strategy for Palworld, the developers at Pocketpair have swiftly put those rumors to rest by reaffirming their commitment to the current model.

Launched in January 2024, the game “Palworld” turned out to be an unexpected mega-hit following its debut. Many gamers affectionately referred to it as “Pokemon with guns,” a nickname that caught the attention of many. At launch, it gathered one of the largest peak Steam simultaneous player counts, peaking at over 2.1 million players. Even the developers themselves, Pocketpair, didn’t anticipate such success. Although the initial hype has subsided somewhat in the months since, “Palworld” still boasts a dedicated community of players, with Pocketpair regularly providing new content updates.

In a recent interview with ASCII.jp, Pocketpair CEO Takuro Mizobe discussed potential plans to transition Palworld into a free-to-play live-service game. However, after addressing concerns on Twitter, the studio has announced that Palworld will continue as a buy-to-play title moving forward. The team clarified that the interview was conducted several months ago, and they have since decided against the F2P/GaaS (Game-as-a-Service) approach, stating it would require too much effort to modify the game at this stage, as Palworld was not initially designed for that model. The developers are currently exploring alternative ways to make Palworld a long-lasting and continually expanding game.

Palworld is Remaining Buy-to-Play

It was noted as well that the model isn’t in line with what players prefer, and Pocketpair is prioritizing players in this decision-making process. Regarding Palworld, despite the free-to-play option being off the table, Pocketpair has suggested some strategies they are considering to back its continued development. In their statement, they confirmed that they are still exploring the idea of paid skins and DLC for Palworld, but nothing is set in stone yet.

In its buy-to-play format, it’s intriguing to anticipate what lies ahead for Palworld. The player base isn’t as substantial as it was during its grand debut, but a significant update might manage to draw players back in large numbers. There’s some promising speculation that could boost the player count significantly. Reports suggest that Palworld may soon be available on PlayStation 5, making an appearance on the lineup for the upcoming Tokyo Game Show. PS5 users have been eagerly awaiting Palworld, and its arrival could serve as a fresh start for the game.

Read More

2024-09-14 18:13