Palworld's Future: Live Service or Standalone? Pocketpair CEO Weighs In

Pocketpair's CEO, Takuro Mizobe, recently spoke with ASCII Japan about the future direction of Palworld, the popular creature-catching shooter. The conversation centered around a critical decision: should Palworld transition to a live service model?

While Mizobe confirmed upcoming updates including a new map, Pals, and raid bosses, the long-term vision remains undecided. He outlined two potential paths: completing Palworld as a buy-to-play (B2P) title or transforming it into a live service game (LiveOps).

Mizobe acknowledged the financial advantages of a live service model, stating it offers increased profit potential and extends the game's lifespan. However, he emphasized the significant challenges involved. Palworld's initial design wasn't built for live service, making the transition complex. Furthermore, the success of such a move hinges on player demand. Mizobe highlighted the typical path of a free-to-play (F2P) game transitioning to live service, adding paid content like battle passes and skins. Converting a B2P game like Palworld presents unique hurdles, citing the considerable time investment (years) observed in successful transitions of titles like PUBG and Fall Guys.

The interview also touched upon alternative monetization strategies. Mizobe discussed the suggestion of incorporating ad monetization, but dismissed it as impractical for a PC game due to potential player backlash. He observed that Steam users, in particular, tend to react negatively to in-game advertising.

Currently, Pocketpair is focused on attracting new players while retaining its existing fanbase. The team is carefully evaluating all options before deciding on Palworld's future trajectory. The game remains in early access, recently releasing a substantial update, Sakurajima, and a highly anticipated PvP arena. The final decision on Palworld's monetization model remains pending, emphasizing the careful consideration being given to player preferences and the unique challenges of transitioning a B2P game to a live service model.