Palword Dev Clarifies Differences in Features Between Xbox, Steam Versions Amid Issues

Amidst concerns and player confusion regarding disparities between the Xbox and Steam versions of Palworld, Pocketpair, the game's developer, took to the Palworld Discord to offer clarifications. The issue primarily revolves around the Xbox version lagging behind its Steam counterpart in terms of features and updates, prompting a need for transparency.

Dispelling Misconceptions

Responding to players who felt they were playing an older build on Xbox compared to Steam, Pocketpair's community manager, Bucky, emphasized that the versions of the game on the two platforms are inherently different. Steam's version and Xbox's version, even if sharing the same version number, do not correspond to identical builds due to differences in architecture. Bucky clarified that the goal is convergence, but it won't be achievable until crossplay compatibility is implemented.

Bucky further explained that delays in updates for the Xbox version are attributed to the certification process with Microsoft. While Steam developers have the flexibility to apply patches at their discretion, the Xbox updates are subject to a more rigorous certification process. Bucky acknowledged the frustration among players and expressed the team's efforts to expedite the certification process.

Dedicated Servers Dilemma

Notably, the lack of dedicated servers on Xbox and Windows PC, limiting online co-op to 2-4 players, remains unexplained by Pocketpair. Despite player queries, the developer has cited negotiations and challenges, stating, "We'd like to have dedicated servers on Xbox, but it's unfortunately not up to us and is quite difficult to negotiate at this time." The statement leaves room for further clarification on the intricacies of this limitation.

While Palworld's popularity soars, it faces controversies such as accusations of being a Pokémon "rip-off," leading to alleged death threats against Pocketpair staff. Additionally, server struggles have been evident in the wake of the game's massive launch, pointing towards the challenges that accompany rapid success.