Pocketpair’s publishing lead is having a tough time summarizing Palworld’s version 1.0 update into digestible patch notes. The raw changelog stretches to an astonishing 27 PDF pages filled with changes and additions. They shared their struggles on social media, saying, “Losing my mind trying to make nice patch notes for Palworld 1.0…” There’s no confirmed release date for the update yet.
To put it in perspective, a changelog that spans 27 pages is unusually extensive, even for live-service games. Most major patches from studios that are much larger than Pocketpair usually come with only two to four pages of internal documentation before any editing. This hints that the 1.0 update will impact a broad range of systems instead of zeroing in on just one content area.
Palworld entered Steam Early Access on January 19, 2024, quickly becoming one of the fastest-selling games in Steam’s history. It peaked at over 2.1 million concurrent players in its first week. The game currently boasts a 95% positive rating across 173,044 Steam reviews, and it’s priced at $20.99, which is the same price as its launch about 18 months ago.
The journey to 1.0 hasn’t been smooth. Earlier in 2026, Pocketpair confirmed they had scrapped a long-anticipated underwater update. This decision faced backlash from parts of the community who were hoping for more biome exploration. What the 1.0 update will offer in place of that — or if it will address the absence — remains unclear until the complete patch notes are released.
Currently, the game has around 30,919 concurrent players. While this is a notable decrease from the launch peak in 2024, it aligns with a game that has managed to keep a stable daily audience throughout its Early Access phase. A 1.0 launch typically brings a noticeable bump in player counts. Whether these changes can pull back former players will be a crucial question for Pocketpair.
| Steam Review Score | 95% positive |
| Total Steam Reviews | 173,044 |
| Current Steam Price | $20.99 |
| Current Concurrent Players | 30,919 |
| 1.0 Changelog Length | 27 PDF pages |
Overall, the community reaction to the announcement is mostly positive. However, the Steam review space for Palworld leans more toward humor than serious analysis. One popular Steam reviewer shared: “My gambling addict friend said if I post a review on Palworld and it gets 100 likes and 30 Awards that he will buy me a case of beer and some vodka so im just gonna leave this here. help a brotha.” While this isn’t exactly a product review, it captures the fun and enthusiastic vibe the community has built since the game’s launch.
What To Watch
- Full patch notes publication: Watch for the release of the condensed 1.0 notes. This will reveal which systems — combat, base building, Pal AI, progression — are affected, and how this update changes the game compared to its Early Access version.
- Player count rebound: Keep an eye on Steam’s concurrent player data during the 72 hours after the 1.0 launch. If numbers return to six figures, it would indicate the update has successfully re-engaged many former players.
- Pricing changes: Pocketpair has kept the price at $20.99 throughout Early Access. A 1.0 release is often a point where a price increase happens, and any change could influence how players on the fence about purchasing react.
Alex Mercer
Alex Mercer is the Gaming News Editor at Explosion.com with over 8 years of experience covering the gaming industry. He previously wrote for several gaming publications and has attended E3, Gamescom, and The Game Awards as press. Alex specializes in breaking news coverage, studio analysis, and tracking industry trends. When not writing, he's grinding ranked matches in Valorant or exploring the latest RPG releases.



