Palworld Confirms It Will Stay Buy-to-Play, Shutting Down Free-to-Play Rumors

Palworld has officially confirmed that it will remain a buy-to-play game, quashing recent rumors suggesting a shift to a free-to-play model. While the free-to-play option seemed to be under genuine consideration, developer Pocketpair quickly responded, affirming its commitment to the current business model.

Released in January 2024, Palworld was an unexpected hit, capturing the attention of gamers who dubbed it "Pokemon with guns." The game reached an impressive peak of over 2.1 million concurrent players on Steam shortly after its launch. Despite the initial surge slowing down, Palworld has retained a strong community, with Pocketpair regularly rolling out content updates.

In a recent interview with ASCII.jp, Pocketpair CEO Takuro Mizobe mentioned the possibility of transitioning Palworld into a free-to-play live-service model. However, the studio was quick to address this on Twitter, clarifying that the game will continue as buy-to-play. The studio explained that the interview was conducted months ago and that, after careful consideration, the free-to-play/GaaS (Games as a Service) model isn't a fit for Palworld. They noted that the game was not designed for this model, and adapting it would be too complex at this stage.

Palworld Stays Buy-to-Play – What’s Next?

Pocketpair emphasized that keeping the game buy-to-play aligns with the desires of its player base, putting player satisfaction at the forefront of its decision-making. Although free-to-play is no longer in the cards, the studio hinted at future plans for paid skins and DLC, though nothing is confirmed yet.

Looking ahead, Palworld’s player numbers have settled since its massive launch, and it would likely take a significant update to bring players back in large numbers. One promising development could help boost the game’s popularity: rumors suggest Palworld might be coming to PlayStation 5. The game has reportedly appeared on the list for the upcoming Tokyo Game Show, which could be a major win for both PlayStation players and Palworld's future.

With Pocketpair focused on maintaining a sustainable and player-first model, the future of Palworld remains intriguing, especially with potential expansion to new platforms.