Palworld CEO Takuro Mizobe discusses the future of Palworld in an interview with ASCII Japan, weighing in on transforming the hit creature-catcher shooter into a live service game and expectations Palworld fans may have.
Pocketpair CEO Weighs in on Turning Palworld Into a Live Service Game
It's Good for Business, but Definitely Challenging
In a recent interview with ASCII Japan, Palworld CEO Takuro Mizobe discussed the potential future direction of the game. The question at hand: should Palworld evolve into a live service game? Mizobe stated that no definitive decisions have been made yet.
"We will continue to enhance Palworld with new content," Mizobe affirmed, mentioning that Pocketpair plans to introduce a new map, additional Pals, and raid bosses to keep the gameplay exciting. "However, we are considering two paths for Palworld's future," he elaborated.
"Either we finalize Palworld as a complete 'packaged' buy-to-play (B2P) game, or we transform it into a live service game, often referred to as LiveOps," Mizobe explained. In a B2P model, players purchase the full game once. In contrast, live service games, or games-as-a-service, typically rely on ongoing monetization through the release of new, often paid content.
"From a business standpoint, adopting a live service model for Palworld could open up more revenue streams and extend the game's lifespan," Mizobe acknowledged. However, he pointed out that Palworld was not originally designed with live service in mind, "so making that transition would present significant challenges."
Another crucial factor Mizobe emphasized is gauging player interest in a live service version of Palworld. "The most critical aspect is determining whether our players would embrace this change," he said. "Typically, a game needs to be free-to-play (F2P) to successfully adopt a live service model, with subsequent additions like skins and battle passes. But since Palworld is a one-time purchase (B2P), transitioning to a live service model is complex."
He cited successful transitions by games like PUBG and Fall Guys, noting, "It took several years for these games to effectively shift to F2P. While I understand the business benefits of a live service model, the transition is not straightforward."
Currently, Pocketpair is exploring various strategies to boost engagement and attract new players while maintaining the satisfaction of its existing community, according to Mizobe. "We've been advised to consider ad monetization, but this approach is generally more suited to mobile games," he noted, adding that he struggles to recall successful examples of ad monetization in PC games. He further commented on the sentiments of PC gamers, saying, "Even if ad monetization worked well for a PC game, Steam users tend to react negatively to ads. Many players get upset when ads are introduced."
"So, for now, we are carefully deliberating on the best path forward for Palworld," Mizobe concluded. Currently, Palworld remains in its early access phase, having recently released its largest update, Sakurajima, along with the much-anticipated PvP arena mode.
