Pocketpair, the developer behind the popular survival game Palworld, is not planning to dedicate a full year to developing its next major update, version 1.1. John "Bucky" Buckley, the company's publishing and communications head, recently advised players to manage their expectations regarding the scope of upcoming content.
Following Palworld's full release in July, which came after over two years in early access, the game has maintained significant player engagement on Steam. Buckley's comments emerged after he retweeted a post about a "Palworld v1.1 brainstorming session," stating "time to get back to the grind!" This prompted over 2,000 player suggestions, ranging from practical additions like increased storage to ambitious ideas such as cross-server PvP and the ability to play as Pals.
Buckley was compelled to temper enthusiasm, explaining that massive undertakings like adding a new continent or significantly increasing character levels are not the focus for version 1.1. "We’re not planning to spend a year making a massive update for 1.1," he wrote. He acknowledged that requests like implementing a "variant system" for the game's numerous Pals, while not technically complex, would be exceptionally time-consuming if done manually, potentially requiring a year or more. Pocketpair has previously voiced opposition to the use of generative AI in game development, emphasizing a preference for manual creation processes.
While the specific content and release date for Palworld 1.1 remain unannounced, Buckley has indicated that further collaborations are in development, suggesting at least some new content is forthcoming. The developer's approach signals a focus on more manageable additions rather than a complete overhaul for the next significant update.