[STEAM] Palworld Hits an Incredible 40 Million Players 2.5 Years After Early Access Launch, and With 1.0 Right Around the Corner

[Steam 0]

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has achieved an impressive player milestone 2.5 years after its early access launch and with the 1.0 release right around the corner.

Developer Pocketpair said Palworld had passed 40 million players, with 1.0 set for July 10 (we’ve got the

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if you want to know when you can play).

That 40 million figure doesn't mean Palworld has sold 40 million copies. While it's an undoubted sales success, particularly on Steam, Palworld is also available on console subscription services. It's still on Game Pass, for example (

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promoted the Palworld 1.0 launch as part of its

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this week).

It’s been a rollercoaster Early Access ******* for Palworld since it launched in January 2024, breaking sales and concurrent player number records in the process. Pocketpair boss Takuro Mizobe has said Palworld's launch was so big that the developer

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. Still, Pocketpair acted swiftly to capitalize on Palworld’s breakout success,

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to form a new business called Palworld Entertainment that was tasked with expanding the IP. It later launched the game on PS5.

After Palworld’s huge launch, comparisons were made between Palworld’s Pals and Pokémon, with some accusing Pocketpair of "ripping off" Pokémon designs. But rather than file a copyright infringement lawsuit, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company went down the patent route. In the initial lawsuit, the two companies called for 5 million yen (approx $30,000) each plus late payment damages, as well as an injunction against Palworld that would block its release.

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.

In a

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published today, Pocketpair thanked Palworld fans for sticking with the game. “Thank you all so much for your incredible support!” the Japanese studio said. “Over the last 2.5 years, Palworld has grown alongside our community.”

As for Palworld 1.0, John “Bucky” Buckley, head of publishing and communications at Pocketpair,

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27 pages of changes and additions for the patch notes. Bucky has also told existing Palworld players that they do not need to wipe their data for 1.0, “but you should.”

“Players can continue their existing saves if they wish, as we want to respect the time and effort you have put in,” Bucky explained in a

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. “However, due to the large number of changes to the game, including overhauls to mechanics and new content, we believe that starting a new character will give you the best experience of Palworld!

“We will leave that choice up to you, Pal Tamers!”

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on

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at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at [email protected] or confidentially at *****@*****.tld.

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