Palworld Hits 40 Million Players; Devs Confirm No Price Increase for 1.0 Launch

Since its early access debut in January 2024, the “Pokémon with guns” survival sensation Palworld has maintained a massive following. Last month, developer Pocketpair confirmed that the project would finally transition to its full Version 1.0 release on July 10. Given the standard practices of the industry, many anticipated that the game’s $29.99 price tag might climb upon reaching this milestone, especially since the official Steam page explicitly warned that the cost could increase closer to the full launch.

However, in a generous gesture on Wednesday, Pocketpair announced that Palworld will remain at its current $29.99 price point. The studio shared a heartfelt message on X, expressing deep gratitude for their community: “We are incredibly proud of how far Palworld has come. Thanks to the amazing support of our players, it has become a success beyond our wildest dreams.”

After much thought, we have decided not to raise the price of Palworld following the 1.0 release and will keep it at $29.99. We are incredibly proud of how far Palworld has come. Thanks to the amazing support of our players, it has become a success beyond our wildest dreams.

— Palworld (@Palworld_EN) July 8, 2026

The game’s ascent is particularly impressive, especially considering the legal challenges brought forth by Nintendo and The Pokémon Company, which necessitated adjustments to certain gameplay mechanics. Despite those hurdles, Pocketpair reports that an astounding 40 million players have explored this open-world creature-collection title. While this figure includes the significant audience accessing the game via Xbox Game Pass rather than direct sales, it remains a staggering achievement for a title that is still in its infancy.

If you have yet to jump into the world of Pals, there has never been a better window of opportunity. Alongside the arrival of Version 1.0—which introduces new creatures, expansive territories, and expanded mechanics—the game is currently discounted on Steam. You can grab Palworld for $20.99 (a 30% discount) until July 9 at 1:00 p.m. EDT.