Home 
Navigation
Palworld CEO Takuro Mizobe recently spoke with ASCII Japan about the game's future, specifically addressing the possibility of transitioning to a live service model. The interview reveals a careful consideration of the pros and cons, and the importance of player feedback.
Pocketpair's CEO on Palworld's Live Service Potential
A Lucrative but Complex Path
Mizobe confirmed that while future updates—including a new map, Pals, and raid bosses—are planned, the long-term direction for Palworld remains undecided. The primary options are completing the game as a buy-to-play (B2P) title or transitioning to a live service model (LiveOps).
Mizobe explained the financial benefits of a live service approach, stating that it would offer greater profit potential and extend the game's lifespan. However, he acknowledged significant challenges, primarily because Palworld wasn't initially designed with this model in mind.
Player preference is paramount. Mizobe highlighted the difficulty of converting a B2P game to a live service model, particularly given the typical free-to-play (F2P) foundation of such games, which then incorporate paid content like skins and battle passes. While successful transitions exist (PUBG and Fall Guys are cited as examples), Mizobe emphasized the considerable time and effort involved in such a shift.
The potential for ad monetization was also discussed, but Mizobe dismissed this option for the PC version due to the likely negative player reaction. He observed that PC gamers, especially on Steam, generally react poorly to in-game advertising.
Currently, Pocketpair is focused on increasing player engagement and retention while exploring various avenues for future development. With the recent Sakurajima update and the introduction of PvP, Palworld is still in its early access phase, and the final decision on its long-term model remains pending. The company is carefully weighing all options before making a final determination on Palworld's future direction.
Latest Articles
Latest Games
