Next Palworld update: What's new

Palworld, the creature-collecting survival game that has stirred both massive success and controversy, is set to expand its horizons with exciting new updates. Developer Pocketpair has announced that the game, which achieved a staggering seven million sales within five days, will soon introduce player versus player (PvP) combat, raid bosses, crossplay between Steam and Xbox platforms, and fresh islands for players to explore. Further enhancements are also in the pipeline, including improvements to Pal AI and pathing, the building system, server transfers, and the introduction of new Pals, bosses, and technologies.

Following its colossal launch, Palworld faced technical difficulties due to overwhelming player numbers. Pocketpair has prioritized addressing these issues, tackling numerous bugs and gameplay impediments such as world date rollbacks and persistent loading screens. With an Early Access review score of 8/10 from IGN, Palworld is praised for its survival mechanics and distinctive charm, despite criticisms of it being a Pokémon "rip-off" and the controversy surrounding death threats to the staff.

Key features anticipated for future updates include PvP combat, raid bosses, an arena for Pal battles, Steam-Xbox crossplay, enhanced Xbox features, server transfers, improved building systems, and the addition of new islands, Pals, bosses, and technologies.

Palworld, developed by Pocketpair, distinguishes itself with a blend of creature collecting reminiscent of Pokémon and survival gameplay. It presents a sandbox environment where players can capture and train creatures called Pals while building shelters, crafting items, and engaging in combat. The game has been noted for pushing the envelope with darker themes not typically found in its inspiration, such as making the Pals participate in battles and labor. Its rapid rise in popularity, alongside its nuanced approach to gameplay, underscores a growing interest in genre-bending titles that challenge traditional game mechanics.