Palworld Xbox Update Brings Fixes, but Dedicated Servers Still Missing

Palworld, the smash hit survival and crafting game that launched in early access form on January 19, 2024, has received an update for the Xbox and Windows PC versions that addresses some of the issues players have been experiencing. However, the lack of dedicated servers on Xbox and Windows PC remains a significant point of contention.

The update, which was released on January 23, 2024, includes fixes for several issues on both platforms. On Xbox, the game no longer goes black when starting the app, and the controller is now recognized. The key guide display is now displayed correctly, and the exit game button has been implemented. On the Microsoft Store PC version, the same issues have been addressed.

Despite these improvements, Palworld players on Xbox and Windows PC continue to be unable to create or join dedicated servers, which limits online co-op to a maximum of 2-4 players. Crossplay between Xbox and Steam is also currently unavailable.

Pocketpair, the developer of Palworld, has yet to fully explain why dedicated servers are not available on Xbox and Windows PC. In a statement last week, a Pocketpair representative said, “We’d like to have dedicated servers on Xbox but it’s unfortunately not up to us and is quite difficult to negotiate at this time!” However, it is unclear what the representative means when they say the addition of dedicated servers on Xbox is “not up to us,” as other games do have dedicated servers on Xbox. IGN has reached out to Pocketpair for comment but has yet to hear back.

The lack of dedicated servers on Xbox and Windows PC has been a source of frustration for players, who had assumed they were playing an older build of the game due to the missing feature. However, Pocketpair has insisted that both versions will always be different until crossplay is enabled.

Palworld’s early access launch has been met with controversy, as staff at Pocketpair have reported receiving death threats amid claims that the game is a Pokémon rip-off. Nintendo also moved quickly to remove a popular Pokémon mod from the game. The game’s servers have also struggled to keep up with the enormous player base.

Despite these challenges, Palworld has been a massive success, with players drawn to its addictive gameplay mechanics and the ability to create and level up powerful rare monsters. The game’s enormous launch has seen its servers struggle to keep up with demand, but Pocketpair is working to address the issues and add new features.

In the meantime, Palworld players on Xbox and Windows PC will have to make do with the limited online co-op options and wait for dedicated servers to be added. The game’s popularity shows no signs of waning, and it will be interesting to see how Pocketpair addresses the remaining issues and adds new features in the coming weeks and months.

If you’re interested in trying Palworld for yourself, you can download it now on Steam, Xbox, and Windows PC. And be sure to check out IGN’s Palworld Early Access Review in Progress for our thoughts on the game so far.