Palworld
Palworld is an action-adventure survival video game. It was both published and developed by Pocket Pair. The game was released on January 19, 2024 for the Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S for early access.[1]
| Palworld | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Pocket Pair |
| Publisher(s) | Pocket Pair |
| Producer(s) | Takuro Mizobe |
| Programmer(s) | Hiroto Matsutani |
| Artist(s) | Daiki Kizu |
| Composer(s) | Tatsuya Yano |
| Engine | Unreal Engine 5 |
| Platform(s) | Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S |
| Release | January 19, 2024 (early access) |
| Genre(s) | Survival, monster-taming |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
In the game, players travel around an open world area called the Palpagos Islands. They can battle and catch different creatures called Pals using Pal Spheres. They can then battle their Pals against NPCs or have them do different tasks. Players can also purchase Pals from an in-game black market. Players can also be attacked by NPCs if they commit a crime.[2]
Reception
The game was given mixed and positive reviews from game critics. Critics said that they liked the combat, gameplay, and open world environment. However, they said that they felt like the game tried to hard with its brand of shock humor.[3][4][5]
The early access for Palworld sold very well as well. It has sold over 15 million copies on Steam and reached 10 players on Xbox worldwide since February 22, 2024.[6] It became the first game since PUBG: Battlegrounds to have over 2,000,000 simultaneous players on Steam.[7]
When the game was released, many people said that the design of the characters looked very similar to characters in the Pokémon series and claimed that the creators plagiarized them. Some refering to the game as "Pokémon with guns".[8][9] The game's producer said that Pokémon wasn't even an inspiration while making the game. Instead stating that their team was inspired by both Ark: Survival Evolved and Rust.[10] The Pokémon Company posted a statement about the situation, saying "[We] have received many inquiries regarding another company's game released in January 2024... we intend to investigate and take appropriate measures to address any acts that infringe on intellectual property rights related to the Pokémon."[11]
References
- ↑ "Microsoft Snaps Up 'Pokémon-With-Guns' Game Palworld for Game Pass, Release Date Confirmed". IGN. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
- ↑ "Palworld is more than just 'Pokemon with guns', but not much more". VG247. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
- ↑ "Palworld Is a Refreshing Pokémon Twist on Survival Crafting". The Escapist. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
- ↑ "Palworld Is Refreshingly Comfortable With Being Immoral". GameSpot. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
- ↑ "Palworld could be a delight if it wasn't so invested in being awful". PC Gamer. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
- ↑ "Palworld Early Access tops 15 million sales on Steam, 10 million players on Xbox". Gematsu. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
- ↑ "Pokémon-style survival game Palworld is a huge hit, with 2m players in 24 hours". Video Game Chronicle. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
- ↑ "Palworld: Is It Fair to Call It a Pokémon Rip-Off?". IGN. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
- ↑ "Palworld embroiled in AI and Pokémon 'plagiarism' controversy". Video Games Chronicle. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
- ↑ "Interview: Palworld Developers Don't Know Why You Think Their Game Is Just Pokemon With Guns". The Gamer. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
- ↑ "The Pokemon Company Makes an Official Statement on Palworld: 'We Intend to Investigate'". IGN. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
