Palworld, the survival game that mixes creature collecting with base building, has officially left early access. Developer Pocketpair released version 1.0 on Friday, July 10 — the biggest update since the game debuted in January 2024 — and announced that Palworld has now surpassed 40 million players across all platforms.
As a thank-you to the community, the studio confirmed that the price will not go up: Palworld remains US$ 29.99 despite the massive new content.
When and where to play
The 1.0 update rolled out around 12:30 AM Brasília time on Friday, with minor timing differences possible depending on platform distribution.
If you already own Palworld, the update is free on all supported platforms:
- Steam
- Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One
- PlayStation 5
- Microsoft Store
- Game Pass
- Mac App Store
The World Tree is finally explorable
The headline addition is the World Tree, a massive region that was visible but unreachable until now. With the barrier gone, this area serves as the game’s endgame content, featuring new enemies, unique resources, and the conclusion of the main campaign.
The map also expands with the Sky Islands — floating landmasses with new biomes, villages, and exclusive creatures.
20+ new Pals and genetic breeding
Version 1.0 adds over 20 new Pals, including:
- Sky Dragon
- Sword Eel, which can be used as a weapon
- Tree Guardian
- Giant Whale
- new dragon-type creatures
- a new panda-like Pal
Breeding has been revamped with Genetic Recombination, letting players combine rare traits from different creatures to create stronger Pals.
You can finally fight back
One of the most requested features is now live: players can now use equipment to fend off aggressive creatures during exploration and combat. Previously, Palworld leaned toward a pacifist approach in these encounters.
Still, the game’s core philosophy remains: Pals cannot be permanently killed.
Base building and bosses revamped
Quality-of-life improvements include:
- New structures to build on water
- Better building snap and placement
- Overhauled Wildlife Sanctuaries
- Unique arenas for each Tower Boss
- The ability to recruit bosses after defeating them
Pocketpair says the patch notes run 27 pages — the largest update the studio has ever released.
Do you need to start a new save?
No. Existing save files carry over without issue. That said, the developer recommends starting a fresh campaign to fully experience the new progression changes, balance tweaks, and systems.
Nintendo lawsuit doesn’t affect 1.0
Pocketpair clarified that changes made during early access mean the ongoing lawsuit from Nintendo and The Pokémon Company concerns older versions of the game. Version 1.0 itself faces no restrictions related to the legal dispute, which continues in Japanese courts.
With 1.0, Palworld officially completes its early access journey — but Pocketpair has already promised more content and updates in the months ahead.
