What does ‘Criminal activity underway’ mean in Palworld?

If you hurt a friendly NPC or go into a restricted zone in Palworld, you might see a message saying “Criminal activity underway.” It’s a bit strange because nothing really happens and the message disappears fast. But it’s the game’s way of warning you about what you did.

What is Palworld’s “Criminal activity underway” warning?

The “criminal activity underway” message pops up in Palworld if you do something wrong but no other NPC sees it to label you as Wanted. It’s like a heads-up: if the game’s police, the PIDF, catch you with that message, you’ll become Wanted, and the police will chase you until they either kill you or you escape them.

A common way to see the “criminal activity underway” message is by walking in a Wildlife Sanctuary. These places are off-limits for catching or harming Pals, and are watched by the PIDF. If you’re not seen by officers, you’re fine. But if they spot you, the message changes to “Trespassing,” and you become Wanted. You’ll know you’re caught when you see the “You’ve been spotted” alert.

How to avoid the “Criminal Activity Underway” warning and clear your Palworld wanted status

Basically, the “criminal activity underway” warning is okay if you don’t get caught. To clear it, stop the wrong action and stay hidden from others until it goes away, which happens in five seconds or so after you stop the activity. If you’re in a place you shouldn’t be, like a sanctuary, leave it. If you hurt a friendly character, don’t hurt anyone else. Then, the message will vanish without causing you trouble.

You also have the choice to accept the warning, do nothing, and simply avoid other NPCs and the police, which is mandatory if you want to catch rare pals like Lyleen and Grizzbolt in Widlife Sanctuaries.

If your warning escalates into a Wanted status, your best bet will be to run away. Hide far enough from the in-game authorities, and you should be okay. There are a few other options when it comes to clearing your Palworld Wanted status, but running is often the most realistic one!