By Sagar V. Mankar Pocket Pair’s hit game Palworld is officially expanding to mobile, thanks to a partnership with PUBG developer Krafton.
For weeks, the gaming community had been speculating about a potential mobile version of Palworld. The rumors gained momentum after a job listing from Krafton appeared on Twitter, looking for a technical director to lead the mobile adaptation of the game. These whispers have now been confirmed, setting the stage for a new chapter in Palworld’s success story.
Krafton has now officially announced that its subsidiary, PUBG Studios, will be spearheading the development of Palworld’s mobile iteration. The company has signed a licensing agreement with Pocket Pair to ensure the mobile adaptation will offer a fresh take on the original PC and console title, rather than just a straightforward port. Although specific details are yet to be revealed, Krafton shared that they aim to “implement the original’s main fun elements to fit the mobile environment.”
Palworld originally launched on PC and Xbox in January, where it quickly became a massive hit. The game blends monster battling with open-world survival and set a record as the third-highest concurrent player count on Steam, peaking at 2.1 million players. In its first month, it sold an impressive 15 million copies on Steam and attracted another 10 million players on Xbox.
Much of its appeal came from the similarities between the creatures in Palworld—known as Pals—and the Pokémon franchise, which earned it the unofficial nickname, “Pokémon with Guns.” However, not all attention was positive. In late September, Nintendo, the Pokémon Company, filed a lawsuit against Palworld, alleging game mechanics infringement.
Despite the legal challenges, Palworld continued to thrive. Shortly after the lawsuit, the game was released on PS5, expanding its player base even further.
In addition to that, Pocket Pair has been busy working on other projects. Earlier this year, the company formed a joint venture with Sony Music Entertainment and Aniplex to license the Palworld intellectual property. Their first project was the launch of a line of Palworld plush toys. The company is reportedly exploring ideas for comic and anime adaptations.
Pocket Pair has also confirmed that the game will maintain its pay-to-play model, despite previous discussions about possibly transforming it into a live-service game.
With the latest update 0.3.9 now available on PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PS5, and a mobile version on the way, Palworld shows no signs of slowing down.