Palworld release date: Is 'Pokémon with guns' on Xbox Game Pass?

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You'll be collecting creatures, unlocking new technologies and building the ultimate base long before you start adding guns to the mix. We'd definitely encourage you to give it a look!

The Palworld reviews have already been quite positive, too, so we're obviously not the only ones enjoying the game.

This is all well and good, we hear you say, but when is the game leaving early access? Read on for details on that and much, much more below.

When is the Palworld release date?

Palworld is out now in early access! The release date for the first playable version of Palworld was Friday 19th January 2024.

This early access release allows you to try out all of the game's main systems. There’s no word on when the full release might come around.

The game is set to receive patches, and if you are already subscribed to Xbox Game Pass, it may well be worth a punt.

With no announced Pokémon games on the horizon, Palworld could be the title that keeps you busy until then, though you can always keep on top of your health by getting your steps in with Pokémon Go or catching Zs with Pokémon Sleep.

Read more on Palworld:

• Palworld Pals — the full list to collect
• Do Pals evolve? How to improve yours
• Palworld patch notes — what changed?
• Is Palworld free? Cheap ways to play
• Palworld sales numbers — latest figures
• Palworld Depresso — fans embrace an icon
• Palworld starters — best early game Pals
• Palworld breeding explained — how to breed
• Palworld PC requirements — can you run it?
• Will Palworld come to PS4 and Switch? Platforms explained
• Palworld server status — how to check
• Palworld multiplayer explained — is it crossplay?
• Palworld achievements — the full list
• Palworld reviews — our round-up

When was the Palworld launch time in the UK?

Palworld launched into early access at 8am GMT on 19th January 2024.

If you’re going to play it on Xbox Game Pass, you can install it right now on your console or even jump in via Xbox Cloud Gaming.

If you’re playing on Steam, there's no cloud option. You’ll be stuck with a sizeable 40GB download before you can hop in.

If you don’t have a speedy internet connection, check out the best broadband for gaming in the UK. Otherwise, you can always leave your computer running before heading to work and school to make sure it’s ready for you coming home!

When does Palworld leave early access? Our speculation

The full Palworld release date outside of its current early access form will be in January 2025 at the earliest.

On its Steam page (in the FAQ the Early Access Game section), the developers explain:

“We plan to improve the quality of the game by making various improvements throughout early access for at least one year.

"During early access, we will update the game based on the roadmap, actively adding content and improving the game systems.

"Depending on the progress of development, we may consider extending early access or if we are satisfied with the state of the game, officially releasing the game.”

What's more, "the price of the game may increase at or closer to the official release".

Expect Palworld to remain in early access until at least 19 January 2025.

Once it is ready, Pocketpair will release the game fully, with new Pals being added to "the Pal roster, new areas and dungeons to make exploration more enjoyable" and even potential "entirely new game systems based on player feedback and ideas".

Is Palworld on Xbox Game Pass?

Yes, Palworld is available now on Xbox Game Pass for console and cloud.

It’s been available since day one, so you should be able to hop in now and try it out.

This was confirmed by Microsoft in a blog post on Xbox Wire. It’s not clear how long Palworld will be available on Game Pass, so be sure to try it out as soon as you can, if you are interested in dipping your toes into the world of Pals.

There’s always something new being added to the service, too, so you’re never short of games to play.

Is Palworld multiplayer?

Yes, Palworld is multiplayer.

While you can play with friends, you can also play with enemies. Pocketpair makes this clear on its website.

"Work together with fellow players for shared adventures in an open-world setting. Multiplayer not only allows for cooperation, but also conflict, enabling players to attack one another, steal Pals and even steal items.

"Players can engage in Pal battles, pitting their Pals against each other in combat."

It definitely doesn’t take much for Palworld to descend into Painworld, then. Hopefully, you’ve got a solid bunch of pals and Pals to keep your base safe.

On the Palworld Discord, Pocketpair goes into further detail.

"You can play Palworld with up to three friends by simply starting a multiplayer game and inviting them (four-player co-op).

"Beyond this, you can create a dedicated server, which will allow for up to 32 players to play in the same world and create guilds together. We will provide the tools to create these servers yourself at launch.

"There will also be official servers managed by us, or you can choose to host your own private ones."

Crossplay, however, won’t be available at launch, but Pocketpair stresses it is "working to make this a possibility as soon as possible".

Unfortunately, Pocketpair confirms: "This also means PC Game Pass can not play with Steam until crossplay is added."

Which platforms can play Palworld?

Palworld is available to play on PC, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S.

Unfortunately, the Nintendo Switch, PS4 and PS5 won’t see Palworld – for now, at least.

For those looking for a PS5 release, on the official Discord server, Pocketpair says it doesn't "have plans for this at the moment, but will consider it during development". Fingers crossed, then!

Owing to the fact the game uses Unreal Engine 5, it may prove a bridge too far for the Nintendo Switch, but perhaps the long-rumoured Switch 2 has the goods.

It will be available to play on Game Pass from the Microsoft Store and Steam. That means it should run on most handheld gaming PCs, including the Steam Deck too, hopefully, but we’ll cover that in more detail just below.

Can you play Palworld on the Steam Deck?

Yes, you should be able to play Palworld on the Steam Deck. It's listed as Playable on Steam Deck over on its official Steam page.

This means that the game is playable on Valve's handheld PC, but might require extra effort to interact with or configure.

You may find, for example, that Palworld "sometimes shows mouse, keyboard, or non-Steam-Deck controller icons" or that the game "requires manual configuration of graphics settings to perform well on Steam Deck".

The full Steam Deck Compatibility report can be found on the game's Steam page.

Palworld gameplay and story details

Many have dubbed Palworld 'Pokémon with guns', and while this is true to an extent, Palworld has far more in common with the likes of Valheim and Ark: Survival Evolved, only with flavours of Pokémon - as can be seen in the first 15 minutes of gameplay shared by IGN.

Developers Pocketpair lay out their vision for Palworld on their website.

"Palworld seamlessly integrates elements of battle, monster-capturing, training and base building. Players wield a range of weapons, from classic bows and spears to modern assault rifles and rocket launchers."

This is followed up with the more familiar Pokémon gameplay loop.

"The process of capturing Pals involves strategically throwing a sphere, with a higher likelihood of success when weakening the target. Captured Pals become powerful allies in combat, each possessing distinct attributes and skills, even among those of the same type."

Base building makes up a large part of the gameplay loop, and fortunately you can put your Pals to work rather than doing it all on your lonesome.

"Players can enjoy the experience of constructing bases alongside their Pals. Within the created base, players can assign Pals to various tasks, automating item collection, production, farming, and even electricity generation."

There is a story to discover through logs and NPCS, but players will mainly be focused on the mystery surrounding the giant tree present in the world - with exploration and boss fights taking you closer to that goal.

How much is the Palworld price?

The Palworld price is £24.99 RRP on Steam.

On CDKeys, it was listed at the discounted price of £21.99 last time we looked, but that could change at any moment of course.

There's no telling if Palworld will increase in price when it graduates from early access to full release, but we'll be sure to let you know when we find out.

Is there a trailer for Palworld?

Yes, there is indeed a Palworld trailer, and it’s wild (insert sad badum-tsh). Check it out below!

We’ve got 'Pokémon at home' Pals, buildings engulfed in flames, shooting, rival bosses and giant weapon-wielding Pals to name just a few of the features.

The vast open-world is on display, too, but Pocketpair has kept its cards close, as we know now there are many more biomes than are depicted here — it's time to start exploring them!

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