Pocketpair, the developer behind Palworld, has officially quashed rumors of a shift to a free-to-play (F2P) or games-as-a-service (GaaS) model. Recent reports sparked speculation after the developer discussed potential future plans.
Palworld Remains Buy-to-Play
Future Plans: DLC and Skins Under Consideration
In a recent statement on Twitter (X), the Palworld team declared unequivocally: "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 clarifies earlier reports suggesting a potential move to a live service and F2P model.
Pocketpair explained that while they are actively exploring the best path for Palworld's long-term growth, the F2P/GaaS approach isn't the right fit. An interview with ASCII Japan, which fueled the initial speculation, was conducted several months ago, and the team is currently internally discussing various options. They emphasize that player feedback is paramount, and a shift to F2P/GaaS wasn't aligned with player desires or the game's original design.
The developers reassured fans of their commitment to delivering the best possible Palworld experience, apologizing for any anxieties caused by the previous reports. They confirmed their dedication to making Palworld a lasting success. While the F2P/GaaS model is off the table, Pocketpair is exploring the possibility of future DLC and cosmetic skins to support ongoing development, promising further discussion on this topic as plans solidify.
Separately, a potential PS5 version of Palworld has surfaced in a preliminary list of titles for the upcoming Tokyo Game Show 2024 (TGS 2024). However, as noted by Gematsu, this list, published by the Computer Entertainment Supplier’s Association (CESA), isn't definitive confirmation of an announcement.
