Pocketpair’s CEO Takuro Mizobe is facing a tough decision about the future of Palworld. In a recent interview with ASCII.jp, Mizobe revealed that he’s still unsure whether to take the game down the live-service path, even though the idea might be beneficial from a business standpoint. Palworld is a beast of a game, and turning it into a live-service model could mean big changes for players.
Now, let’s talk about the numbers. Palworld made a massive splash when it was released on Steam Early Access and Xbox Game Preview earlier this year. With 25 million players hopping in during the first month, you know it’s got a serious fanbase. It’s currently a buy-to-play game, priced at $29.99, and shifting to a free-to-play live-service model isn’t as simple as flipping a switch. Mizobe is weighing his options, and honestly, it sounds like he’s stuck between a rock and a hard place.
“When you think about it from a business perspective, making it a live-service game would extend its lifespan and make it more stable in terms of profitability,” Mizobe said. But here’s the catch: Palworld wasn’t originally designed to be a live-service game, so transitioning it would be no small feat. Mizobe explained, “There would be many challenges involved in taking it down the live-service path.”
Mizobe even pointed out that turning Palworld into a free-to-play title with microtransactions like battle passes and skins would bring a new set of complications. Tons of players already own the game, and for example, look at other games like PUBG and Fall Guys. They both made the leap to free-to-play, but it took years to get it right. As Mizobe put it, “It’s not that easy.”
Nothing is set in stone yet. Mizobe made it clear that “things aren’t decided yet” when it comes to the future direction. Pocketpair seems to be considering all options, but rushing into a live-service model isn’t on the table right now. That said, Mizobe does recognize the potential upside of such a move would result in more stability and a longer lifespan for the game. It’s a tempting proposition, but one that comes with a lot of hurdles.
Recently, a listing for a PS5 version of the game was spotted for the Tokyo Game Show. The game’s community manager even teased plans for a PS5 release earlier this year, so it looks like Palworld might be expanding its horizons regardless of whether it becomes a live-service game or not.
What do you think? Should Palworld go live service, or stick to its current model? Let’s hear it in the comments!
