Just days after its early access release, the sensation that is Palworld continues to amaze the gaming community, achieving a milestone that few could have predicted. Surpassing even the highly anticipated titles like Elden Ring and Cyberpunk 2077 in concurrent player count on Steam, Palworld has emerged as an unexpected global hit, swiftly ascending to the summit of popularity charts.
Despite not being one of the most anticipated games of 2024 for some, Palworld has defied expectations, captivating a worldwide audience and selling over 4 million copies within a mere three days, as proudly announced by Pocket Pair on Twitter. The game’s availability on Xbox Game Pass has only added to its success, but it’s on Steam where Palworld has truly made its mark, outshining even the most awaited titles of the year.
Referred to by gamers as “Pokemon with guns,” Palworld offers a unique blend of monster-catching and survival elements. This distinctive gameplay experience has fostered a devoted following, as players embark on a journey to capture a variety of helpful Pals while simultaneously gathering materials to fortify and enhance their bases.
The captivating gameplay loop is undoubtedly a key factor in Palworld’s skyrocketing success, contributing to its achievement of one of the highest concurrent player counts in gaming history. According to Steam DB, Palworld boasts an impressive total of 1,291,967 players over the weekend, surpassing the concurrent player counts of iconic titles like Cyberpunk 2077 with 1,054,388 and Elden Ring with 953,426. Remarkably, Palworld has even eclipsed the player counts of last year’s popular title Baldur’s Gate 3 and 2023’s best-selling game, Hogwarts Legacy, all within a single day.
The unforeseen triumph of Palworld serves as a testament to the unpredictable nature of the gaming industry, where a game’s popularity can swiftly soar to unprecedented heights, captivating the imaginations and time of players around the globe.
#Palworld has the highest concurrent player count of any paid game in the history of Steam!
We can't believe it!
Thank you SO much to everyone. We really can not thank you enough.
The team is hard at work making Palworld even better as we speak! #Pocketpair pic.twitter.com/tYHfHWLqM9
— Palworld (@Palworld_EN) January 21, 2024
While Pocket Pair proudly declared on Twitter that Palworld boasts the “highest concurrent player count of any paid game in the history of Steam,” it’s important to acknowledge that this title is still held by PUBG, which reached an unprecedented peak of 3,257,248 players in 2018 during its paid phase. This figure stands nearly three times higher than Palworld’s current player count.
Nevertheless, Pocket Pair’s accomplishment with Palworld is undeniably impressive. Released just three days ago and still in its early access stage, the studio has achieved a remarkable milestone in a remarkably short time. Such is the game’s popularity that Palworld encountered server issues on launch day due to the overwhelming influx of eager players.
However, not everyone sings praises for the game. Particularly, Pokemon enthusiasts have raised concerns about Palworld, criticizing it for seemingly borrowing designs from the beloved Nintendo franchise. Even before the game’s official release, the similarities between Pals and Pokemon were apparent, with comparisons drawn between the designs of characters like Lamball and Wooloo, as well as Cattiva and Zorua. Despite the critique, some argue that this might be the catalyst needed for Nintendo and Game Freak to elevate the Pokemon franchise to new heights. Considering Palworld’s exceptional early success, it’s plausible that Nintendo is closely monitoring the title and contemplating its impact on the gaming landscape.
