Palworld developer Pocketpair has revealed that the game is set to exit Early Access in 2026. No specific release date has been confirmed for Palworld’s full launch, but the announcement is a positive sign of progress.

Palworld’s initial launch at the beginning of 2024 was impressive, achieving a peak player count of over 2.1 million on Steam, making it one of the most popular games on the platform. It quickly sold millions of copies shortly after release, and while sales have slowed, the game maintains a strong player community. The game has often been described as “Pokemon with guns,” a concept that has garnered significant attention.

Palworld Has More Features Planned Before Full Launch in 2026

In a YouTube announcement, Palworld confirmed its approach towards launching the 1.0 version in 2026. Numerous updates have been released since its debut, but this forthcoming major update is a significant milestone for Pocketpair. John “Bucky” Buckley stated that the current focus is on addressing many issues prior to the game’s transition out of Early Access, emphasizing that the goal is to produce a better game by investing time now to resolve these problems. He mentioned, “This means that things will be a little quiet from us for the remainder of the year,” and clarified that the upcoming Winter update will not be as substantial as last year’s Feybreak update released in December 2024. However, Pocketpair has hinted at having some surprises planned for the rest of 2025.

Bucky reassured fans that development is “not slowing down or scaling back - quite the opposite,” highlighting that the 1.0 update will bring a truly massive amount of content. If it successfully launches in 2026, it will mark a two-year journey for the game, with hopes for further exciting developments beyond the full release.