Palworld developer Pocketpair is gearing up for a major cross-play update slated for late March 2025. A recent X/Twitter post confirmed this update will enable multiplayer across all platforms and introduce world transfer for Pals. While specifics remain scarce beyond a promotional image depicting a Palworld battle featuring numerous characters against a colossal Pal, Pocketpair's Communications Director and Publishing Manager, John 'Bucky' Buckley, hinted at "a few little surprises" included in the March update.
Palworld gets crossplay late March. Image credit: Pocketpair.
This news is a welcome boost for the 32 million players who've joined Palworld since its January 2024 early access launch. Pocketpair has outlined an ambitious 2025 content roadmap, including the cross-play functionality, a concluding scenario, and additional content for the popular creature-catching survival game.
Palworld's initial launch on Steam ($30) and simultaneous arrival on Xbox and PC Game Pass proved remarkably successful, shattering sales and concurrent player records. The game's overwhelming success, as stated by Pocketpair CEO Takuro Mizobe, even presented challenges in managing the substantial profits generated. Capitalizing on this momentum, Pocketpair swiftly partnered with Sony, establishing Palworld Entertainment to expand the IP and bring the game to PS5.
However, a looming legal challenge from Nintendo and The Pokémon Company casts a shadow. They're seeking an injunction and damages, alleging Palworld infringes upon multiple patent rights. Pocketpair has responded by identifying the patents in question and making adjustments to the Pal summoning mechanic within the game. The developer has firmly stated its intention to defend its position in court, declaring, “We will continue to assert our position in this case through future legal proceedings.”