Palworld Won’t Get a Price Hike for 1.0 Launch, Pocketpair Confirms

Pocketpair has confirmed it will not increase Palworld’s price for the game’s 1.0 launch this week, keeping the cost at $29.99.

Key takeaways

• Pocketpair is holding Palworld’s launch-week price at $29.99 instead of raising it.
• The game’s Steam Early Access listing previously warned the price could change around launch.
• Pocketpair says the decision is meant as a “small way of saying thank you” to players.
• Palworld has reportedly reached 40 million players since Early Access began.
• Pocketpair has teased 27 pages’ worth of changes and additions for the 1.0 update.
• John “Bucky” Buckley says players won’t need to wipe save data for 1.0, though he recommends doing so.

Price stays the same for the 1.0 launch

Palworld’s Steam Early Access page has long included a caution that the price might increase at, or closer to, the official release. That phrasing—present since early 2024—prompted speculation that Palworld would cost more when version 1.0 arrives on July 10.

Despite that warning, Pocketpair says the price will remain unchanged at $29.99. In a social media statement, the studio framed the choice as gratitude for player support, noting that it would keep the game at the same price after the 1.0 release.

“After much thought, we have decided not to raise the price of Palworld following the 1.0 release and will keep it at $29.99,” Pocketpair said. The developer added that it is proud of how far Palworld has come, attributing the game’s success to the community, and reiterated that the $29.99 price is being maintained as a “small way of saying thank you.”

From record-breaking success to legal turbulence

Pocketpair’s decision comes on the heels of a major commercial run. Palworld has reportedly attracted 40 million players since launching in Early Access, and that total is expected to climb further once the 1.0 update lands. When Palworld first debuted, it set records for both sales and concurrent players.

Pocketpair boss Takuro Mizobe has said the scale of the launch was so large that the studio couldn’t immediately manage the massive profits generated by the game. In response, Pocketpair moved quickly to expand the Palworld brand, including signing a deal with Sony to create a new company—Palworld Entertainment—whose job is to grow the IP. The game later released on PS5.

Even with that momentum, Pocketpair hasn’t had an easy road. After the game’s breakout launch, comparisons were drawn between Palworld’s creatures and Pokémon, with some players claiming Palworld “ripped off” Pokémon designs. Rather than pursuing a copyright infringement case, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company pursued patent-related legal action.

In the initial filing, the companies sought 5 million yen (about $30,000) from Pocketpair each, along with additional damages tied to late payment. They also requested an injunction intended to prevent Palworld from releasing. A judgment is expected later this year.

What to expect from Palworld 1.0

With version 1.0 approaching, Pocketpair is also laying out what the update will bring. The studio has shared that Palworld 1.0 is set to launch globally, and players looking for timing details can check the release schedule for when they’ll be able to play.

John “Bucky” Buckley, head of publishing and communications at Pocketpair, has teased that the patch notes will include 27 pages of changes and additions. He’s also addressed existing players directly, saying they do not need to wipe their data for 1.0—while also adding that they “should.”

In a Discord post, Buckley explained that players can keep using their existing saves if they want, emphasizing that the studio wants to respect the time and effort people have put into their characters. However, he argued that because the update includes a large number of alterations—such as overhauls to mechanics plus new content—starting a fresh character may provide the best experience.

“We will leave that choice up to you, Pal Tamers!” Buckley added.

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at [email protected] or confidentially at [email protected].