In a recent interview, Pocketpair’s CEO Takuro Mizobe suggested that the studio’s popular survival game Palworld might shift to a free-to-play model to “extend its lifespan.”
However, the company has since clarified that this interview took place months ago and that such plans are no longer being considered.
In a tweet today, the studio confirmed, “We are not changing our game’s business model; it will remain buy-to-play and not transition to a free-to-play or [game as a service] model.”
The statement explained that the interview discussed potential future directions for Palworld and ways to ensure its long-term growth, but that the interview was conducted several months ago.
At the time, Pocketpair was still “considering the best way forward for Palworld,” with the goal of creating a “long-lasting game that continues to grow.”
While the team is still looking for strategies to keep the game’s unique “Pokemon-with-guns” concept relevant, they have completely ruled out adopting a live service model.
“Palworld was never designed with that model in mind, and adapting the game to fit it would require significant work,” the statement continued.
“Moreover, we know this isn’t what our players want, and we always prioritize their experience.”
Currently, Pocketpair is looking for the possibility of adding cosmetic skins and paid DLC to support ongoing development.
However, the team remains focused on making Palworld “the best game possible.”
Palworld was an unexpected hit upon its release earlier this year, breaking records on Steam, Xbox, and Game Pass.
The CEO also revealed that the game generated revenue “in the tens of billions of yen,” which equates to at least $70 million.
For more games similar to Palworld, check out our roundup of the best survival games.
