In 2020, Pocketpair shot into the zeitgeist with its action-adventure RPG sandbox, Craftopia. Affectionately referred to as "Everything: The Game" by players, Craftopia was a delightful hodge podge of possibilities at a time when we all collectively needed it the most. Craftopia took streamers and PC gamers for a whirlwind ride, and it was eventually released into Game Preview for Xbox.
While Craftopia remains in development as part of Early Access and Game Preview programs, Pocketpair has opted to release yet another Early Access title. This time, Palworld has gamers abuzz, and it's coming to Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass on Day One. The trailers for Palworld, like Craftopia before it, feel a bit like a fever dream, so you've probably got some questions about what this game is. We're going to do our best to answer them all for you.
What is Palworld?
Best answer: Palworld is a multiplayer survival-crafting adventure developed by Pocket Pair that was released in Early Access on Steam and Game Preview on Windows PC and Xbox consoles.
In all honesty, "What is Palworld?" might be one of the most challenging questions in this entire FAQ. Like its predecessor, Craftopia, Palworld has an eclectic look and gameplay loop going for it. While many are quick to point out that Palworld looks like "Pokémon with guns", PocketPair CEO Takuro Mizobe explained that RimWorld was actually the inspiration behind the game. According to Mizobe, early development on Palworld involved colony sim gameplay, which eventually evolved to include third-person shooter elements and survival-crafting mechanics.
Players will encounter unique creatures in the world known as Pals, which they can fight or collect to fill out their Paldeck. Pals can also be used to power your assembly lines for crafting, ridden as mounts, or utilized as companions in battle. You know what, maybe it is Pokémon with guns. Whatever you categorize it as, Palworld is a chaotic multiplayer game that places up to 32 players in a world and lets them do whatever their heart desires (including hitting not-Pokémon with a stick). There's also up to four-player co-op.
When does Palworld release?
Best answer: Palworld released in early access on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One consoles and Windows PC via the Microsoft Store and Steam on Jan. 19, 2024. We don't know when Palworld will leave Early Access or if it'll eventually come to other platforms.
Palworld is available in early access on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows PCs via the Microsoft Store and Steam as of Jan. 19, 2024. It's an in-progress game that will likely evolve significantly over time with frequent updates and improvements, and Pocketpair has given no indication of how long it may take for the game to leave early access as a full and complete gaming experience.
There are currently no plans to bring Palworld to the Nintendo Switch or PlayStation 5, but Pocketpair has not indicated the existence of an exclusivity clause that would prevent it from doing so. At this time, the developers have just decided to focus on Xbox consoles and Windows during the Early Access period.
How much does Palworld cost?
Best answer: Palworld will cost $29.99 while in Early Access and Game Preview (the cost is the same across Xbox and PC). The price for the final product may be higher.
Pocketpair has a fondness for releasing games into the Early Access and Game Preview programs, which allows the developers to release an unfinished product for players to purchase at a discount. In exchange for the lower price rate, players may run into more bugs and glitches, but the feedback collected by the developer can help make the final product better overall.
There's no guarantee that a game released into EA or Game Preview will ever leave that state. It's rare for a game to stay in Early Access indefinitely, but it can certainly happen. Pocketpair's previous title, Craftopia, has been in Game Preview for nearly four years now. However, it continues to receive content and updates, the most recent being in December 2023.
At least you can continue to pick Palworld (and Craftopia, if you haven't yet!) up at a discounted price of $29.99 while it is considered pre-release.
Does Palworld have a free trial or demo?
Best answer: Yes, Palworld offers a limited free trial on Xbox consoles and Windows PC via the Microsoft Store to try out the game before buying. Steam does not offer a free trial at this time.
It's extremely easy to jump into Palworld via Xbox or PC Game Pass, but not everyone is subscribed to the Netflix-like gaming service. If you want to sample Palworld before you pull the trigger on its early access version, there is a free trial available on the Microsoft Store — accessible via Xbox consoles and Windows PC. It's accessed from the same store page where you buy the game (links above).
Unfortunately, Steam does not appear to offer any free trial or demo of Palworld. It's possible that it'll arrive in the future, but it's not available now, and there's no confirmation it will be.
Is Palworld on Xbox or PC Game Pass?
Best answer: Yes, Palworld is on Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass. It is not available via Xbox Cloud Gaming.
Just like its predecessor, Pocketpair's Palworld is a day-one release for Microsoft's popular gaming subscription service. There's certainly a possibility it'll leave in the future, but for now, you can access this surprise hit on Xbox consoles and Windows PC via Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass. There is cross-play between those versions, as well.
Sadly, Palworld is not available via Xbox Cloud Gaming, at least right now. That means you are decidedly limited to Xbox and PC platforms, with no option to stream the game on other platforms. Game Pass subscribers also don't seem to get their 10% discount (20% for Game Pass Ultimate) on buying the game to own at the moment, possibly because Palworld is in Game Preview.
Does Palworld have multiplayer?
Best answer: Yes, Palworld has multiplayer support at launch. Players can play in co-op with up to four players, or join a 32-player multiplayer realm (Steam only at the moment).
Palworld has two options for multiplayer at launch, with one major caveat. Players on all platforms can join up to three of their friends in online four-player co-op (with cross-play for the Microsoft Store version). There's also an option to join 32-player realms for true chaos, but only on Steam, as that's the only platform that supports dedicated servers at the moment. 32-player realms should come to the Microsoft Store version for Xbox and PC players in the future.
There are no player-versus-player elements at launch. Pocketpair is looking to make Palworld a more cooperative experience, at least during the early access period. Matters may change on this front in the future.
Does Palworld support cross-play?
Best answer: Yes, Palworld supports cross-play between Xbox and Windows PC users via the Microsoft Store. Steam players do not have cross-play support at launch.
This one's a yes and a no! Players who load up Palworld via the Microsoft Store on Xbox consoles and Windows PC can enjoy full cross-play between the two platforms. However, Steam players will only be able to play with other Steam players, with no cross-play support at launch. While cross-play with Steam may come in the future, it hasn't been confirmed yet.
Does Palworld have cross-save or cross-progression?
Best answer: Yes, depending on how you access the game. Palworld does support Xbox cloud saves via the Microsoft Store version, meaning saves will transfer between Xbox consoles and Windows PC. Steam does not support cross-save at this time with other platforms.
Palworld does support cross-save (or cross-progression, if you prefer), but only in one of the two versions available. If you purchase Palworld through the Microsoft Store or play via Xbox and PC Game Pass, the game supports Xbox cloud saves synced through your Microsoft Account. In that case, Palworld will transfer your progress between Xbox consoles and Windows PC through the cloud.
However, the Steam version of Palworld does not support cross-save with other platforms at this time, same as cross-play.
Does Palworld include crypto or microtransactions?
Best answer: No, Palworld does not include crypto, NFT, or other web3 connections. The game also does not have microtransactions or payment portals for any optional in-game purchases.
Palworld certainly has that air of a game that is too good to be true. Players have long pleaded for a Pokemon-like game on platforms other than Nintendo. While there have been a few that have tried to fill the niche void in gamers' backlogs, Palworld has been the one to genuinely capture players' attention at this point. That has led some to wonder if the game is a scam or a devious means of crypto mining.
Pocketpair has been adamant, posting FAQs on their own Steam pages debunking the idea that Palworld is a scam. To drive the point home, the development team has declared that not only does Palworld not have any connections to crypto or web3, but the game doesn't offer any in-game purchases, microtransactions, or payment processing at all. Everything the game offers can be accessed with a one-time purchase (or through Xbox Game Pass).
