Palworld’s Explosive Launch: Selling Over Seven Million Copies in Five Days
3 min read
Palworld, the ‘Pokémon with guns’ crafting and survival game, has seen an explosive launch, selling over seven million copies in just five days. This impressive figure, which translates to approximately $189 million USD in Steam sales alone, has put Palworld among the biggest game launches ever.
The game, developed by Pocketpair, has dominated the video game community since its release on January 19, 2024. It has already sold more copies in its first five days than some major titles have in their entire lifetimes. The game’s popularity has been meteoric, with a peak of 1,864,421 concurrent players on Steam, surpassing Valve’s own Counter-Strike in Steam’s all-time most-played games list.
Despite the game’s success, it has also been controversial. Pocketpair’s staff have received death threats amid claims of plagiarism from Pokémon. Nintendo moved quickly to remove an eye-catching Pokémon mod. The game’s servers have struggled to keep up with the demand, leading to numerous bugs and issues.
IGN’s early access review of Palworld on Steam returned an 8/10, praising the game’s deep survival mechanics and hilarious attitude. However, it also noted the game’s bugs and issues, which have continued to plague the game even after its official release.
Palworld’s success on Steam has been a boon for the platform, which has seen a surge in sales and new users. The game’s popularity has also led to a wave of mods and user-generated content, adding to the game’s appeal and replayability.
Despite the game’s success on Steam, it remains to be seen whether it will come to other platforms, such as PlayStation and Xbox. Sony does not allow early access games on its store, which could limit the game’s reach on the platform. Microsoft, on the other hand, has been more open to early access games, and has even bundled Palworld with Series S consoles in Asia.
Palworld’s explosive launch has been a surprise to many, and has raised questions about the future of gaming and the role of early access in the industry. It has also highlighted the power of community and user-generated content in driving the success of a game.
As Palworld continues to evolve and grow, it will be interesting to see how it fares in the long term. With its deep survival mechanics, hilarious attitude, and dedicated community, it has the potential to become a lasting phenomenon in the gaming world.
In conclusion, Palworld’s explosive launch has been a game-changer in the gaming industry, selling over seven million copies in just five days and translating to approximately $189 million USD in Steam sales alone. Despite the controversy and bugs, the game’s deep survival mechanics, hilarious attitude, and dedicated community have made it a hit among gamers. It remains to be seen whether it will come to other platforms, but its success on Steam has already had a significant impact on the platform and the industry as a whole. With its potential to become a lasting phenomenon, Palworld is a game worth keeping an eye on.
