19M Palworld Players Causing Sky-High Server Costs

Palworld, an independent action-adventure game, is facing incredibly high server costs due to its rapidly growing player base. Having launched on January 19, the game has acquired a staggering 19 million players, with 12 million on Steam alone. Pocketpair, the developer behind Palworld, may have joked about the possibility of going bankrupt because of the hefty server fees. In less than a full month, the cost has reached approximately 70.53 million yen (about £376,276 or $475,349). Despite the financial challenge, the development team remains committed to maintaining stable servers.

The success of Palworld, a one-time purchase title, does not include a recurring revenue stream, contrasting with persistent online games that often have subscription models or in-game transactions. Nevertheless, the game's sizable player count suggests significant sales earnings. Updates and a soundtrack DLC are currently the only additional content offerings post-launch. The most recent update prevents players from stealing others' Pals, addressing an issue within the game's community.

Palworld is a multiplayer, open-world survival game featuring creature collection and crafting. Players can explore, battle, farm, and build, all while interacting with a range of creatures, known as 'Pals'. While gameplay emphasizes freedom and creativity, it also incorporates combat and adventure elements.

Palworld has drawn comparisons to games like Pokémon and Minecraft due to its creature companionship and vast world building opportunities. Developed by Pocketpair, this indie game has distinguished itself with its unique combination of survival and creature collection mechanics, appealing to a wide audience and proving to be particularly popular on platforms like Steam and Xbox.