Palworld Teases Major New Feature That Could Be Controversial

Palworld may be introducing monetized cosmetics, and there are many fans who aren't very happy about that. Palworld has been one of 2024's biggest hits. The game was released in early access, and became somewhat viral over the concept of "Pokemon with guns." Now that months have passed, it appears Palworld has more than become its own thing. The presence of new microtransactions like cosmetics could further distinguish the title from others.

Palworld developer Pocketpair appears committed to preserving the game's popularity through the introduction of updates that expand its scope. The hugely successful indie title will be introducing its Sakurajima update, which may reel fans who have put the title down back in. The additional content coming to Palworld with its update may also interest gamers who initially wrote it off, now that there will be even more to do. One feature this update appears to be introducing is skins.

A post from Palworld's social media account shows off what seems to be the first Pal skin for the character Cattiva. Plenty of players are excited about this feature, because it adds an aspect of customization to the game, which may be a way to increase players' investment overall. However, some players are not so pleased. The developers have been figuring out ways to deal with the diminishing player count of Palworld after the initial success, and the developer has mentioned an interest in microtransactions. Players have voiced wanting skins to be free, as they just don't want to spend more money on a game many have already purchased.

Some players have suggested being entirely fine with potential microtransactions, noting reasons like wanting to support the Palworld developers. Many seem to also share the sentiment that their reaction to microtransactions for the game will depend entirely on how much they cost and what they change. Some fans state that if things like skins do not buff players and are cheap, they would be excited to have them. However, PocketPair hasn't confirmed if the skins will be free or paid at this time.

Players Prepare for Palworld Update

Although fans remain conflicted about the utility and pricing of cosmetic features, many are just excited to have even more of the game to play. The June 27 Palworld update will give players new places to explore, new pals, and expand on the gameplay format that players have come to enjoy. Palworld changing things up this far in its release with monetization could come with a new set of problems, but it appears much of the playerbase is just happy to watch the game continue to grow.