In a surprising turn of events, Steam’s gaming community has embraced a new viral hit, and it goes by the name Palworld. Developed by Pocketpair, the game has quickly earned the moniker of “Pokémon with guns,” blending elements of creature collecting, open-world survival, and crafting into a unique gaming experience. Since its recent launch into early access on PC and Xbox Game Preview for Xbox Series X/S, Palworld has become a phenomenon, reaching over 370,000 concurrent players on Steam alone.
According to data from SteamDB, the Steam version of Palworld has not only captivated a massive player base but has also achieved the remarkable feat of selling 1 million copies. These impressive numbers mark one of the most substantial launches for an unexpectedly viral game since the likes of Dave the Diver and Baldur’s Gate 3 in 2023. It’s important to note that these statistics don’t account for Xbox sales and Game Pass players on both PC and Xbox, potentially indicating an even higher concurrent player count.
Palworld’s success, however, is not without its share of controversies. The game has faced allegations of stealing some fan-made Pokémon designs, adding a layer of complexity to its rapid rise in popularity. Despite the controversy, Palworld has garnered a “Very Positive” aggregate rating on Steam, supported by nearly 3,000 user reviews.
Available in early access on PC and Xbox Series X/S, Palworld offers players an opportunity to explore its Pokémon-inspired world without the $27 price tag, thanks to its day one inclusion in Xbox Game Pass. Pocketpair’s current roadmap outlines keeping Palworld in early access “for at least one year,” with the possibility of extensions based on development progress or an official release if the game meets the developers’ satisfaction.
