Palworld, the creature-collection game developed by Pocketpair, will exit early access and release its full 1.0 version on July 10, 2026 [1, 2]. The game has been available in early access on PC and Xbox Series X|S since January 2024 and expanded to PlayStation 5 in September 2024 [2].
A cinematic trailer unveiled at Summer Game Fest 2026 marked the first cinematic teaser for Palworld, simultaneously revealing the official release date [1, 2]. Palworld’s official Twitter tweeted, "Pal Tamers, the time has come! A strange energy is coming from the World Tree... Palworld's first-ever cinematic trailer debuted at Summer Game Fest alongside the release date you have been waiting for! Gather your Pals. Palpagos awaits!" [1].
One of the major new features in the full release is the opening of the World Tree area, a key part of the game’s core mystery. Pocketpair community manager John "Bucky" Buckley said, "The World Tree, where the 'ending' takes place, has been visible since day one. Many players suspected their journey would end there, and we've been asked repeatedly about when the World Tree will become available so we're pretty excited to finally be opening the area up for players!" [1].
Palworld received positive feedback during its early access phase, including an 8/10 score from IGN [2]. However, the game faced legal challenges when Nintendo filed a lawsuit against Pocketpair in September 2024, alleging multiple patent infringements related to gameplay mechanics [1, 2]. In response, Pocketpair removed the summoning of creatures via Pokéball-style Pal Spheres in a December 2024 update [1].
Pocketpair has hinted at a potential Palworld 2.0 in the future but has not committed to a long-term update schedule [2]. The full 1.0 version release on July 10, 2026 will be the next major milestone, promising to expand the game’s world and narrative with the addition of the World Tree and finalized gameplay features [1, 2].
