Palworld developer Pocketpair has clarified its stance on the game’s business model, assuring players that it will remain buy-to-play and not transition to a free-to-play or games-as-a-service model.
The clarification comes after a recent interview led some players to believe that the team was considering adopting a live service model. However, in a statement posted on X/Twitter, the company stated that it is not changing its game’s business model and that Palworld will remain buy-to-play.
The company explained that the interview in question was conducted several months ago, during which time the team was discussing the game’s future direction. However, the team ultimately decided that the free-to-play and games-as-a-service approach was not suitable for Palworld.
According to the statement, Palworld was never designed with a free-to-play or games-as-a-service model in mind, and adapting the game to such a model would require too much work. Additionally, the team is aware that this is not what their players want, and they prioritize their players’ needs.
The team is still considering releasing skins and DLC for Palworld in the future as a means to support development. However, they will discuss this with the community as they get closer to that point. For now, their priority remains making Palworld the best game possible.
Palworld community manager John Buckley recently shared his thoughts on the importance of players trying new games and not sticking to one game for too long. He believes that this is essential for the health of the gaming industry.