Ava Brooks
Jan 23, 2024
Palworld, a recently launched unique gaming title that blends creature collection, survival, and crafting, has taken the gaming world by storm since its launch on January 19.
Developed by Tokyo-based PocketPair, the game quickly became a sensation on Steam, surpassing heavyweights like Cyberpunk 2077 and PUBG in terms of concurrent players.
With a peak of 1.3 million active Steam users, Palworld became the most-played game on the platform and the most-played Japanese-developed game ever on Steam, even outshining Elden Ring, Gizmochina reported.
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The game's success is evident in its rapid sales, with over five million copies sold in just three days. This impressive achievement surpasses sales numbers of recent gaming hits such as Marvel’s Spider-Man and The Last of Us 2.
Despite its success, Palworld has faced controversies, notably regarding similarities between its creatures (Pals) and the iconic Pokémon, sparking a debate on the thin line between inspiration and imitation in game development.
Players on Xbox have also reported disparities in updates and features compared to the Steam version, and managing unexpected popularity has led to server challenges.
In an industry often dominated by sequels and familiar franchises, Palworld stands out as an innovative and daring title.
However, the development raises the question of whether the game's user base will retain over time, considering the spate of challenges and controversies it has faced during initial days.
