Palworld Live Service Model May Be PocketPair's Best Option

Pocketpair's CEO, Takuro Mizobe, recently spoke with ASCII Japan about Palworld's future, specifically addressing the possibility of transitioning the game to a live service model. The interview revealed a careful consideration of this significant shift.

Live Service: A Profitable but Perilous Path

Mizobe confirmed that while future updates are planned—including a new map, Pals, and raid bosses—the ultimate direction for Palworld remains undecided. He outlined two primary paths: completing Palworld as a traditional buy-to-play (B2P) title or transitioning to a live service model (LiveOps).

He acknowledged the financial advantages of a live service model, stating that it offers greater profit potential and extends the game's lifespan. However, he emphasized the inherent challenges, primarily due to Palworld's initial design, which wasn't built with live service in mind.

A crucial factor, Mizobe stressed, is player preference. The success of a live service model hinges on player acceptance. He pointed out the typical trajectory of live service games—starting as free-to-play (F2P) and then adding monetized content—a path significantly different from Palworld's current B2P structure. While successful transitions exist (like PUBG and Fall Guys), he highlighted the considerable time and effort required for such a shift.

Alternative Monetization Strategies: A Cautious Approach

Mizobe also discussed alternative monetization strategies, such as ad integration. However, he expressed skepticism about its viability for a PC game like Palworld, citing the negative player reactions to ads commonly observed on platforms like Steam.

Currently, Pocketpair is focused on attracting new players while maintaining the satisfaction of its existing community. The decision regarding Palworld's future direction remains under careful consideration, with the game still in its early access phase, recently having launched the Sakurajima update and its PvP arena. The future of Palworld, therefore, remains an open question, pending a thorough evaluation of all options.