Palworld, a new action-adventure survival game, has rapidly become a sensation, shattering records and drawing tons of attention in the gaming world.
Since its release on January 19, the game has not only sold over 6 million copies in just four days but the game has also skyrocketed to the top of Steam’s most-played games chart, surpassing iconic titles like Counter-Strike 2 and Dota 2.
With 1.82 million concurrent players on Steam, Palworld is now second only to PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, which is the current record-holder with 3.2 million players.
Developed by the Tokyo-based studio, PocketPair, Palworld is now the most-played Japanese-developed game ever on Steam, overtaking previous record-holder Elden Ring. It also stands as the second most-played paid video game on the platform, trailing behind the peak figure of PUBG, which it achieved before transitioning to a free-to-play model.
Palworld’s explosive popularity is even more remarkable when considering its availability on Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass from day one. Its sales have outpaced those of major PS4 exclusives; for instance, Marvel’s Spider-Man sold 3.3 million copies, God of War had 3.1 million, and The Last of Us 2 posted 4 million, all within their first three days on sale.
Perhaps Palworld’s lack of PlayStation release has helped increase its numbers on Steam, with gamers forced to either go settle for the inferior Xbox version or buy it on Steam and/or Epic Games Store.
Despite its success, Palworld hasn’t been without controversy. It has drawn comparisons to the beloved Pokémon series, with some fans pointing out striking similarities between Palworld’s creature designs and Pokémon characters. These accusations of resembling Pokémon too closely have led to debates about potential intellectual property issues, although no legal actions have been taken against the game as of now.
On a more positive note, Palworld’s seemingly Pokémon-inspired premise and unique blend of monster-catching with survival and crafting mechanics has been a significant factor in its appeal. Described by some as “Pokémon with guns,” Palworld offers a unique twist on familiar gameplay by allowing players to collect and raise creatures called Pals, which aid in various tasks like resource gathering, building construction, and combat.
Despite its growing popularity, Palworld has experienced its fair share of teething problems. The Xbox version suffers from the lack of timely updates and key features compared to the Steam version, as previously mentioned. Additionally, the massive influx of players at launch led to server issues, a common challenge for many online games experiencing sudden surges in player numbers.
While it navigates the challenges of rapid growth and addresses controversies, Palworld continues to maintain a strong presence on the gaming charts, showcasing the potential of indie games to make a significant impact in the competitive gaming market.
All that’s left for now is for Palworld to continue evolving to meet market demand.
