Palworld, the highly anticipated crafting and survival game developed by Pocketpair, has taken the gaming world by storm. In a remarkable turn of events, Palworld has surpassed Valve’s iconic Counter-Strike to become the second most-popular game on Steam. With an astonishing 1,853,216 concurrent players on January 23, Palworld has firmly cemented its place in gaming history.
The only game that stands ahead of Palworld is PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG), which reached a peak of 3,257,248 concurrent players during the height of the battle royale craze. While it may be challenging for Palworld to reach those unprecedented heights, its increasing sales success indicates that there is still room for growth. It’s worth noting that Palworld is currently in early access, with Pocketpair planning to keep it in this form for a year.
Since its launch on January 19, Palworld has already sold an impressive six million copies across Xbox consoles and PC via Steam and Windows. Additionally, it debuted on Game Pass, allowing even more players to dive into its captivating world. Pocketpair expressed their gratitude to the players for their support, stating, “Thank you for playing the game even though it is a weekday! The team is working hard to ensure that you can enjoy the game even more comfortably.”
However, Palworld’s journey to success has not been without controversy. The game has faced accusations of being a Pokémon “rip-off,” leading to death threats against Pocketpair’s staff. Nintendo swiftly intervened by removing an eye-catching Pokémon mod from the game. Despite these challenges, Palworld’s launch has been nothing short of monumental.
The overwhelming popularity of Palworld has put a strain on its servers, causing some difficulties for players. Nevertheless, the team at Pocketpair remains committed to providing the best possible gaming experience and is working tirelessly to address these issues.
If you’re curious to learn more about Palworld, IGN has an ongoing Early Access Review that delves into the game’s features and mechanics. Wesley, the UK News Editor for IGN, has been closely following Palworld’s journey and can be reached on Twitter at @wyp100 or via email at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or wyp100@proton.me for any confidential inquiries.
Palworld’s rise to become the second most-popular game on Steam is a testament to its captivating gameplay and the dedication of its developers. As the game continues to evolve during its early access phase, it’s clear that Palworld has firmly established itself as a force to be reckoned with in the gaming industry.
