Palworld boss teases free-to-play future to keep it alive
Pocketpair could soon make Palworld free-to-play in an attempt to extend the monster-catching game's lifespan.
13th Sep 2024 16:23
Images via Pocketpair
Palworld boss teases free-to-play future to keep it alive
Pocketpair could soon make Palworld free-to-play in an attempt to extend the monster-catching game's lifespan.
13th Sep 2024 16:23
Images via Pocketpair
There are plenty of Pokemon clones out there, and while Nintendo's legal eagles tend to come down pretty hard on them, it seems one Magikarp has escaped the net. Pocketpair's Palworld has made bank on the idea of 'Pokemon with guns', and while Nintendo isn't impressed, it's managed to carve its own legacy.
2024 has been a big year for surprising games outshining AAA release, and while the likes of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and Star Wars Outlaws have struggled, Palworld and Helldivers 2 have proved smaller studios can pack a punch.
Free-to-play Palworld could extend its lifespan
Despite a strong start and breaking Steam records for the most concurrent players of all time, Palworld has slipped into something of a natural low. Although new features like PvP have been added and there's talk of the fabled PS5 version, the team is looking even further ahead about how Palworld can return to its former glory.
In a translated interview with a ASCII.jp (via GamesRadar), Pocketpair CEO Takuro Mizobe has given an honest insight into the future of the monster-catching title and how a live-service model could help extend its lifespan. Despite saying "things aren't decided yet," Palworld could eventually flip its business model on its head.
Looking at the benefits of being a live-service game, Mizobe mused, "When you think about it from a business perspective, making [Palworld] a live-service game would extend its lifespan and make it more stable in terms of profitability."
It's admittedly not that easy, and with Mizobe confirming Palworld was never designed to be live-service, there would be "many challenges." Mizobe notes how the likes of Fall Guys have gone free-to-play, but it would likely rattle those who've paid for the title.
You only have to look at how Kill the Justice League has failed to keep players engaged with its free seasonal content, although some think Concord being free-to-play could've saved it. Still, Mizobe suggests that it could take several years to make the shift.
September's Sakurajima update served as Palworld's first big one since release, and while we saw a healthy bump in player numbers, it's still petered out. Live-service games seem like something of a poison chalice right now, so taking Palworld down this route would be a risky one. Even if Palworld eventually ends up being free-to-play, it sounds like it'll be a way off yet.
About The Author
Tom Chapman
Tom is Trending News Editor at GGRecon, with an NCTJ qualification in Broadcast Journalism and over seven years of experience writing about film, gaming, and television. With bylines at IGN, Digital Spy, Den of Geek, and more, Tom’s love of horror means he's well-versed in all things Resident Evil, with aspirations to be the next Chris Redfield.
