Palworld started as a meme but quickly exploded to become one of 2024’s biggest games after its early access launch, leading to the developers at Pocketpair scrambling to upkeep the game. Now the team is focused on future updates that will continue improving and adding new content to Palworld for years to come.
Despite being in early access, Palworld has surpassed 19 million total players and broke concurrent records on Steam. That early success has led to some shifts in development plans behind the scenes. Pocketpair still plans to release a finalized build of Palworld in 2025, though that doesn’t mean the team hasn’t established a roadmap for early access updates and new content that will be shared leading up to that.
Palworld content roadmap: All planned updates, DLC, and new features
What is the next Palworld update?
Since Jan. 24, when Pocketpair originally shared its long-term roadmap plans for Palworld, there has never been a set schedule for updates. The main goal for the team is to keep the game in a strong place where players can keep enjoying it, while also working on future content releases leading up to the full release.
When the devs talk about what is going to be addressed in new patches, the focus is typically put on addressing critical issues impacting performance or player experience with Palworld. This includes fixing bugs, balancing different gameplay elements, or preventing exploits that can cause issues for online servers.
This falls under what the team views as “ASAP” improvements versus “planned future updates,” which have both slowly been whittled away at since the game’s launch in January.
We do know that a “larger, more content-packed update for summer 2024” is on the way following a big Raid update that dropped on April 3.
PvP, more Raid Bosses, and endgame Palworld content
Pocketpair has delivered on some of its key “future updates” by adding Raid Bosses and some other endgame content to Palworld. PvP should be next on the list, though we haven’t received an update on how it is coming along.
Since Raid Bosses have been added, PvP is the next big end-game milestone that should be coming, though Pocketpair has been very open about how difficult developing that element of the game has been internally. It could still be quite a ways out, so expect more Raid content first before we see something for PvP like the Arena.
Crossplay, online features, and more Palworld improvements
Even three months in, the Xbox and Steam versions of Palworld are running on different timelines and lack things like simultaneous update releases and crossplay functionality. Microsoft and Pocketpair are actively working on getting the Xbox version up to snuff so it can include things like crossplay, cross-save, and more to further unite the community.
Server transfers and migrations are also on the table, though most improvements in general Palworld updates revolve around performance stability and online safety. Otherwise, Pocketpair spends a lot of time working on improving base building.
Palworld will get new areas, Pals, dungeons, and technology
Palworld’s map is sizable already, with a large map with four biomes to explore and plenty of Pals to catch. But Pocketpair has promised to add even more areas and dungeons to “make exploration even more enjoyable.” With the release of Raid Bosses, we now have confirmation that an update will drop in Summer 2024 featuring “never-before-seen scenery and thrilling adventures on a new island, home to many new Pals.
More technology is on the way, with some already being added in the Raid Boss update, such as the Ability Glasses and an Electric Egg Incubator. Future updates are planned to include more “buildings, weapons, and tower bosses” too.
Mod support is coming to Palworld
While there are several unofficial mods available for Palworld, Pocketpair intends to incorporate official mod support through the Steam Workshop down the line. It hasn’t mentioned if it plans to allow mod support for the Xbox version, however.
We’ll be sure to update this article should Pocketpair share another official roadmap or provide more details on new content, features, release windows, etc.
Published: Apr 4, 2024 10:41 pm