In an interview with ASCII Japan, Palworld CEO Takuro Mizobe discusses the game's future direction, exploring the possibility of transforming the popular creature-collection shooter into a live service title and addressing fan expectations.

PocketPair CEO Considers Transitioning Palworld to Live Service Model

Promising for Business Growth, Though Not Without Challenges

During a recent discussion with ASCII Japan, Palworld CEO Takuro Mizobe addressed the potential directions for the game's evolution. When questioned about future development plans, Mizobe stated that no definitive decisions have been made at this stage.

"We will certainly introduce new content through updates," he confirmed, noting that developer Pocketpair plans to expand with additional maps, more Pals creatures, and raid bosses to maintain engagement. "However, for Palworld's long-term future, we're evaluating two primary approaches," Mizobe continued.

"We could either complete Palworld as a traditional packaged buy-to-play title, or transition it to a live service model," Mizobe elaborated. The buy-to-play model allows full game access after a single purchase, while live service games typically feature ongoing content updates with monetization elements.

"From a commercial standpoint, adopting a live service approach could create additional revenue streams and potentially extend the game's lifespan." However, Mizobe acknowledged that Palworld wasn't originally designed with live service elements, "so implementing this model would present significant technical and design challenges."

Mizobe emphasized the importance of considering player preferences regarding this potential shift. "The crucial factor is determining whether our community actually wants this change." He further explained, "Typically, successful transitions to live service models begin with free-to-play foundations, followed by premium content like cosmetic items and battle passes. Since Palworld operates on a one-time purchase model, converting it to live service presents unique complications."

"We've seen successful free-to-play conversions in titles like PUBG and Fall Guys," he noted, "but these transitions required several years to implement effectively. While the live service model offers business advantages, the conversion process is far from straightforward."

Currently, Pocketpair is investigating methods to increase player engagement and attract new audiences while maintaining satisfaction among existing players. "We've received suggestions about implementing advertising monetization, but this approach generally works better for mobile games than PC titles," Mizobe commented, adding that he couldn't recall successful examples of ad monetization in PC gaming. "Even if technically feasible, Steam users typically react negatively to advertisements. Many players express strong opposition to ad integration in their gaming experience."

"For now, we're carefully evaluating the optimal path forward for Palworld," Mizobe concluded. The game remains in early access, recently receiving its major Sakurajima update and introducing the highly anticipated PvP arena mode.