Developer Pocketpair officially launched Palworld version 1.0 on Friday, July 10, 2026, marking the end of early access for the creature-catching survival game.
The release follows a lengthy legal conflict with Nintendo and The Pokémon Company over gameplay patents.
Massive Update and Player Base
Palworld has attracted over 40 million players since its early access debut in January 2024.
The full launch includes 27 pages of patch notes, introducing new islands, space Pals, and licensed collaborations, according to Rock Paper Shotgun.
The update rolled out globally at 4:30 AM UK time, 5:30 AM CEST, and 12:30 PM Japan time on Friday, while launching on Thursday evening in the United States at 8:30 PM PT and 11:30 PM ET.
Legal Adjustments
The legal dispute centered on specific game mechanics, leading Pocketpair to make concessions.
Developers disabled the ability to summon Pals with a thrown Palsphere and discontinued using them for gliding purposes.
Despite these changes, the game maintained commercial momentum.
The studio expanded into publishing, launched a spin-off card game, and announced an upcoming farming simulator.
