PALWORLD DEV ADMITS STRUGGLE WITH MASSIVE PROFITS

The gaming world is buzzing as Palworld, developed by Pocketpair, emerges as an overnight sensation. Remarkably, having launched in January, Palworld, a unique twist on the creature-collecting genre dubbed as a 'Pokémon with guns' crafting and survival game, astonished the gaming community by amassing 25 million players. On Steam alone, it sold 15 million copies, not to mention the additional 10 million players on Xbox Game Pass, setting a record-breaking launch for the service.

Despite its resounding success yielding profits in the tens of billions of yen, after its production costs of under ¥1 billion (around $6.7 million), Pocketpair's boss Takuro Mizobe admitted the profits are overwhelming for a studio of their modest size. Presently counting 55 employees, Mizobe has expressed openness to acquisitions or partnerships, though no formal discussions have taken place with companies like Microsoft. Meanwhile, Pocketpair is exploring opportunities to expand Palworld's reach to other platforms, hinting at possible PlayStation 5 and Nintendo console releases.

However, not all the attention is positive. Palworld's similarity to the beloved Pokémon franchise has led to controversy, including claims of being a rip-off and even resulting in death threats against the staff—accusations the company strenuously denies. Legal experts are weighing in on the implications for intellectual property rights as Nintendo and The Pokémon Company take measures to protect their trademarks.

For Palworld players seeking to enhance their experience, they can make use of IGN's interactive Palworld map, offering an invaluable tool for navigation and gameplay.

What platforms is Palworld available on?

Palworld is currently available on Steam and Xbox Game Pass, with future expansions possibly including PlayStation 5 and Nintendo consoles.

Palworld is a game that blends the mechanics of creature collecting with aspects of crafting and survival, setting it apart from its more family-friendly counterpart Pokémon. Despite clear influences from the Pokémon series, Palworld differentiates itself with more mature themes and the addition of combat elements, striking a chord with a demographic that grew up with Pokémon but now seeks more complex gameplay. This new take on a familiar genre has clearly paid off, as evidenced by the game's explosive growth and market performance.