Palworld’s Ambitious 2025 Plans: Crossplay, Epic Final Showdown, and More

It’s been one year since Palworld launched in Early Access, and to mark the occasion, developer Pocketpair has rolled out a jam-packed roadmap targeting 2025 (and possibly extending into early 2026). Highlights of this ambitious plan include crossplay functionality, a climactic final boss, and even a definitive ending to wrap up the game’s storyline.

Roadmap Reveal

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Pocketpair outlined the “future roadmap” while calling on fans to stick with Palworld through its second year. “We’ve been updating the game since Early Access began, and we’ll continue to enhance Palworld as we gear up for the official release,” the studio said.

Key Features on the Horizon

• Cooperative Crossplay: Team up with friends across different platforms to explore and survive together.
• Final Boss & Ending Scenario: Prepare for a showdown that promises to tie up loose ends in the Palworld narrative.
• World Transfers for Pals: Easily move your Pals between various worlds for even more strategic gameplay.
• Enhanced Pal Power-Ups: Discover new methods to strengthen Pals, tapping into fresh technologies and improved abilities.
• New Pals & Technologies: Expect continuous additions to the in-game roster and tech tree, building on existing collaborations like the Terraria crossover.

Improvements & Optimizations

Pocketpair is also focusing on refinements to object placements throughout the world, improvements to base Pals, and overall game optimization. There are further plans to enhance the user experience, ensuring Palworld remains accessible and engaging for both newcomers and veterans.

The Legal Battle

One major event that could define 2025 for Pocketpair is the potential conclusion of its legal dispute with The Pokémon Company and Nintendo. Palworld—often described by fans as “Pokémon with guns”—attracted 25 million players within its first month. Comparisons to Pokémon grew as critics pointed to some Pal designs that appeared to closely resemble official pocket monsters.

Background on the Lawsuit

• Initial Claims (January 2024): The Pokémon Company announced it would investigate and address any actions infringing upon its IP rights.
• Patent Lawsuit (September 2024): Nintendo and The Pokémon Company officially filed a patent lawsuit against Pocketpair, focusing on mechanics used for catching creatures.

Pocketpair initially responded by stating it was unclear which patents it was accused of infringing upon. Undeterred, the studio continued releasing Palworld on multiple platforms and even launched one of its older games on the Nintendo Switch. Subsequent details revealed the patent conflict involved a spherical capture device—Pokémon’s iconic Pokéball compared to Palworld’s Pal Sphere.

Looking Ahead

Whether Palworld’s 2025 will be defined by new features, a high-profile legal resolution, or both, Pocketpair seems committed to expanding the game’s universe. Players can look forward to new content, further optimizations, and a ramp-up to an official release that aims to stand on its own—even as it battles comparisons to the beloved Pokémon series.