The survival game Palworld, often dubbed 'Pokémon With Guns', is gaining significant popularity on Steam, featuring the ability to create and join dedicated servers supporting up to 32 players for multiplayer experiences. Unfortunately, Xbox and Windows PC players via Game Pass or the Microsoft Store have a limited co-op capability, restricting them to 2-4 players without access to dedicated servers. Developer Pocketpair has expressed difficulty in implementing dedicated servers on Xbox, indicating it's not solely within their control. This feature disparity may impact platform choice for consumers, particularly those eager to engage in larger multiplayer sessions with friends. Crossplay between Xbox and Steam isn't available at launch, but it is actively being worked on. As for a PlayStation 5 version of Palworld, there are currently no plans but the possibility remains open during the game's development.

How does multiplayer work in Palworld?

In Palworld, multiplayer on Steam allows for simple co-op sessions with up to three friends and the option to join official servers or create dedicated servers for larger groups of up to 32 players to build and play together. Xbox players, in contrast, have a limited co-op experience and are currently unable to join games with Steam players.

Palworld, a game developed by Pocketpair, received attention in the gaming community for blending creature collection and survival mechanics, reminiscent of the Pokémon franchise, but with a unique twist of crafting, fighting, and even arming the creatures known as Pals. This added layer of grit and the expansive multiplayer server capabilities have drawn in a wide audience on Steam, showcasing the game's potential for community and gameplay depth that could push the envelope for the genre.