After two and a half years in early access, the Pokemon-like game Palworld has reached 40 million players before its 1.0 release. Developer Pocketpair announced this milestone just days before the game’s massive 1.0 update, which brings several major changes to overhaul the game.
“Palworld passes 40 million players,” the developer said on social media. “Thank you all so much for your incredible support! Over the last two and a half years, Palworld has grown alongside our community.”
Of course, hitting the 40 million mark doesn’t necessarily mean Palworld has sold 40 million copies. Palworld often ranks high on Steam’s top seller list, but the game is also included in Xbox’s Game Pass subscription. Having 40 million is still a major accomplishment, and the player count is likely to surge even higher with the 1.0 launch on July 10.
Palworld’s big update was first revealed at Summer Game Fest with a cinematic trailer, and the developer also announced several major changes. These updates include several new Pals to catch, an improved combat system, and overhauled raid mechanics. Players can also expect revamped quests and main storyline missions to learn more about the world.
It seems the developer was initially considering a price hike for its creature-catching game, but it has now announced that Palworld’s price will remain the same beyond early access.
“After much thought, we have decided not to raise the price of Palworld following the 1.0 release and will keep it at $29.99,” the developer said. “We are incredibly proud of how far Palworld has come. Thanks to the amazing support of our players, it has become a success beyond our wildest dreams.”
Palworld is currently available on PC, Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5. The game is not available on either Switch platform, as Nintendo sued Pocketpair in 2024 on patent-infringement accusations. Palworld was updated in 2025 with altered game mechanics due to the legal matter.