The online multiplayer survival game Palworld, which launched on January 19, 2024, has reportedly been impacted by a variety of serious technical issues, causing significant problems for its player base. The game's developer, Pocketpair, has been addressing these concerns, such as players being unable to enter servers, play in multiplayer modes, and a particularly severe bug resulting in lost save data. Pocketpair is offering guidance and potential restoration for lost single-player and co-op save data, while also working to fix a bug linked to the ‘Memory Reset Drug’ item which inadvertently diminishes capture power in-game. Furthermore, Palworld experienced server outages due to an overwhelming number of concurrent players exceeding 1.3 million, affecting the Epic Online Service and game connectivity. While Palworld has become a hit with impressive launch numbers, it has faced criticism for its resemblance to the Pokémon franchise, with fans highlighting the similarities on social media. The Xbox iteration of the game is also noted to be falling behind the Steam version regarding features and updates. Despite the server and connectivity challenges, Palworld's success continues, echoing the significance of its early sales achievements.

What is Palworld and why is it generating so much attention?

Palworld is a creature-collecting and survival game that gained attention for its similarity to the Pokémon series and its unique blend of gameplay elements. Its launch was notable for both high sales and significant technical issues, leading to a mixed response from the gaming community.

Additional background: Palworld, developed by Pocketpair, is an innovative title that merges the popular mechanics of creature collection, seen in titles like Pokémon, with survival game elements. It presents an open-world adventure where players can befriend creatures known as "Pals," explore environments, build structures, and engage in combat. The game's graphical style and creature design have drawn comparisons to the Pokémon series, which has sparked discussions regarding the originality and legality of such inspirations in the gaming industry. As a result, Palworld has become a topical title, balancing between the controversy of potential IP infringement and the excitement of its gameplay offerings.