I don’t quite get the correlation between early access and number of players here. Palworld is early access because we launched it early with the express purpose of gathering feedback to make the game even better. We’ve taken so much of that feedback on board and made many… https://t.co/U8EiGU4JgHSeptember 18, 2025
Bucky went on to note that although Palworld has reached a huge audience — cited at more than 32 million players — it has remained a work in progress since launch. “We’re fortunate the game resonated so widely from the start, but that doesn’t change the fact Palworld has been a WIP throughout,” he wrote.
He also asked whether Steam’s culture might affect perceptions: should other popular titles such as Satisfactory, Baldur’s Gate 3, or Enshrouded have avoided the Early Access label simply because they attracted large player bases? Bucky suggested those games likely benefited from community feedback during their Early Access periods.
“Millions of players joining during Early Access doesn’t negate the value of that development phase,” he added. “Games improve when players are involved.” He closed by urging critics not to overlook the many Early Access success stories, Palworld among them.
Meanwhile, as the Palworld lawsuit continues to unfold, Nintendo has filed two patents that could reshape how non-Pokémon creature-collection mechanics operate.
Source: gamesradar.com
