The gaming community has been discussing the discrepancies between the Xbox and Steam versions of Palworld, a popular creature-collection adventure game. Developer Pocketpair addressed concerns on their Discord, explaining that the game’s versions for both platforms are fundamentally different, not just older or missing features. Updates for Xbox are slower because of Microsoft's certification process, while Steam allows for instant patches. Dedicated servers, enabling larger multiplayer experiences, are unavailable on Xbox and Windows PC, limiting co-op play to a few players and preventing crossplay with Steam. The developer has expressed a desire to implement dedicated servers on Xbox but mentioned that this decision isn’t solely within their control. Despite the issues, Palworld remains a hit, although it has attracted controversy including accusations of being a Pokémon "rip-off," which has unfortunately led to death threats against the staff.

Why can't Xbox players access the same dedicated server features for Palworld as Steam players?

Xbox players lack access to dedicated server features in Palworld due to platform differences and because the game’s certification process with Microsoft makes updating the Xbox version more complex and slower compared to the Steam version. The developers have stated that they aspire to add dedicated servers for Xbox but face challenges in doing so.

Palworld, developed by Pocketpair, has gained significant attention due to its concept that combines creature collecting with an open-world survival experience. Players are tasked with capturing and caring for 'Pals' reminiscent of the creatures found in the Pokémon series. The game's comparison to Pokémon has been a substantial talking point, leading to a divided reaction from the community and even result in harsh backlash toward the development team. Palworld's release on Early Access has shown strong sales and user engagement despite technical challenges and the need for continued updates and improvements.