Palworld is a game on Steam that uses a Buy2Play payment model. The CEO of the development studio, Takuro Mizobe, commented on whether the title could eventually become a live service game.
Update: The development team of Palworld has since commented. A tweet was published on X claiming that the interview is already several months old. The development team is currently not considering switching to a Free2Play model.
Internally, the topic is still being discussed because it is challenging to find the right path. However, the team has already decided that a live service model is not an option. That would not be what the players would want. Instead, there will be DLC and skins in the future.
You can view the post here:
Original message: What arguments support making Palworld a live service game? In an interview with ASCII, Mizobe was asked what the future of Palworld would look like. He replied that the developer has not yet decided.
While new maps are being created and new pals will be introduced, there are two important directions in which Palworld could evolve. One possibility would be to make Palworld a live service game. There are several reasons for this:
- Palworld would be more stable
- The title would be more profitable as a live service game
- The lifespan would automatically extend
However, Palworld is a game that relies on a Buy2Play payment model. It was planned from the start that it would not be developed as a live service game. Therefore, Mizobi also sees many difficulties that the transition would bring now.
Here you can watch the trailer for Palworld:
There is one factor that decides the future of Palworld
What are the arguments against it? It is difficult to make Palworld a live service game. The first step would be to change the Buy2Play payment model into a Free-to-Play model. This would involve skins, battle passes, and other paid elements.
PUBG and Fall Guys are two examples where the transition to Free-to-Play succeeded. However, this process took several years. Nevertheless, Palworld wants to attract more players. Recently, the game faced accusations from the community.
Monetizing ads is also conceivable. However, that is difficult, especially on mobile. Players on Steam hate ads and get annoyed by them. The way Mizobi describes advertising, it doesn’t seem like we will see ads in Palworld anytime soon.
Moreover, the CEO has already revealed that Palworld had such a large budget that it could have become a AAAA title. So money does not seem to be a major issue.
Who decides? For Mizobe, the most important thing is whether players would want this change. They ultimately decide whether Palworld becomes a live service game. Whether players can actively influence this process is something Mizobe left open.
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