Palworld Developer Confirms Game Will Remain Buy-to-Play, Not Shifting to Free-to-Play Model

Pocketpair, the developer behind the popular game Palworld, has firmly quashed rumors that the game would transition to a Free to Play (F2P) or Games-as-a-Service (GaaS) model. In a recent statement on Twitter (X), the Palworld team clarified their stance, stating, "Regarding the Future of Palworld TL;DR – We are not changing our game’s business model, it will remain buy-to-play and not f2p or GaaS." This announcement follows reports that the developer had been exploring various future strategies for the creature-catcher survival game.

Palworld DLC and Skins Being Considered to Support Development

The decision to stick with the buy-to-play model came after an interview with ASCII Japan, where Pocketpair discussed potential future directions for Palworld. The developer noted, "At that time, we were still considering the best way forward for Palworld to create a long-lasting game that continues to grow." However, they concluded that shifting to a F2P/GaaS model was not the right fit for Palworld, as it was not initially designed with that model in mind and would require significant changes. Pocketpair emphasized their commitment to their players, stating, "Palworld was never designed with that model in mind, and it would require too much work to adapt the game at this point. Additionally, we are very aware that this just isn't what our players want, and we always put our players first."

The studio reiterated their dedication to making Palworld "the best game possible" and apologized for any confusion caused by the earlier reports. They also mentioned that they are considering introducing skins and DLC as a way to support future development, promising to keep the community informed as these plans progress.

In related news, a PS5 version of Palworld was reportedly listed in an upcoming announcement for the Tokyo Game Show 2024 (TGS 2024). Although the list from Japan’s Computer Entertainment Supplier’s Association (CESA) is not considered definitive, it hints at potential future announcements for the game.

Pocketpair's CEO, Takuro Mizobe, previously discussed plans for updating Palworld with new content, including new Pals and raid bosses, in an interview conducted several months ago. This shows the studio's ongoing commitment to enhancing the game experience without altering its fundamental business model.