During the remarkable launch of Palworld, the game reached a striking 2 million concurrent players in January 2024, marking a huge milestone for any title. In a recent interview, John ‘Bucky’ Buckley, the community manager for the game, recounted the overwhelming experience the single server team faced during this intense period.

Buckley stated, “We definitely panicked more than we should have.” As the initial player influx hit around 100,000, the studio’s anxieties grew, with developers rushing back to their posts as performance began to suffer. Buckley adds, “There was definitely a point after midnight that the servers broke. That was around a million.”

Despite the turmoil, Palworld established a stable user base of 20,000 to 50,000 players in the months following its launch, showcasing its potential longevity in the Steam market, especially after a major update in December 2024.

As the tumultuous launch unfolded, one lone staff member stayed back, doing his best to keep operations running amidst the chaos. Buckley praised his efforts, stating, “He was trying his best.” This candid confession encapsulates the intensity of the experience they collectively went through. Buckley reflects, “We didn’t need to pull as many all-nighters as we did. I wish I’d reached out for advice sooner.”

Finally, Buckley noted the anxiety created by negative feedback from players, emphasizing the overwhelming nature of their concerns during the peak activity. As the dust settles, Palworld continues to work on improving the player experience and navigating challenges presented by competitors and market dynamics.