Palworld is known for borrowing from other games, but it's also carving its own path in some ways. It mixes survival crafting with Pokémon-like elements, adding base-building, guns, and shady dealings. This blend has attracted a lot of players. Keeping up this popularity isn't easy, but Pocketpair, the developer, is working on updates and building a community.
Being in early access, Palworld still has its rough spots, like bugs and unfinished features. However, it launched in a better state than many early access games and is getting regular updates. Pocketpair is focusing on fixing the major issues and common frustrations, but they're not revamping everything that's not perfect yet.
Palworld Might Embrace Bugs That Players Enjoy
While buggy games often get negative attention, sometimes the quirks and glitches can make the experience more memorable and engaging. Palworld has shown this well, with its community discovering interesting exploits and strategies that offer different ways to play.
Pocketpair seems to be on board with this idea. They recently posted an apology on their official Palworld account on X (formerly Twitter) for "accidentally fixing a bug." This bug allowed players to capture bosses in the game, creating powerful but unintended allies. The post, though somewhat humorous, shows that Pocketpair understands the community's fondness for certain bugs and didn't intentionally remove this one in a patch.
Pros And Cons Of Leaving Exploits In Palworld
Allowing bugs that let players cheat in games can have both positive and negative aspects, and there are valid arguments on both sides. From a critical perspective, making it easy to break a game means fewer people experience it as intended. While taking shortcuts may seem tempting, the excitement of being overpowered is usually short-lived compared to the satisfaction of overcoming challenges. Additionally, exploits can sometimes be stumbled upon by players who aren't even interested in them.
On the flip side, games like Palworld prioritize player freedom and creativity, and unintended possibilities can add to the sense of experimentation. It also harkens back to the days when games stayed as they were released. If fans become attached to a part of the game that doesn't harm the experience, seeing it removed can be frustrating since there's no way to access it again after an update.
A prime example of community attachment to bugs can be seen in Bethesda Game Studios' titles. They're known for releasing ambitious, exciting games that come with their fair share of problems. While Bethesda addresses major issues, many minor glitches remain. Despite fan-made patches often being available through modding scenes, bugs like pulling NPCs through doors in Skyrim or voice line mistakes in Oblivion can become charming over time. Not everyone chooses to fix them if given the option.
What The Future Of Palworld Bugs Could Look Like
Pocketpair's response regarding the fix for capturing bosses could be seen as reassuring for players who enjoy some of the game's exploits. It suggests that the company may not actively target certain bugs if they know the community generally likes them, showing that the Palworld developers are attentive. This approach contrasts with many games, particularly online PvP titles that strive for a level playing field for all.
However, cheating or exploiting in Palworld could still spoil multiplayer experiences on larger servers, prompting Pocketpair to announce plans to tackle cheating soon.
Palworld isn't the only game taking this approach. Baldur's Gate 3, for instance, is handling similar situations in its own way. Developer Larian Studios has left some fan-favorite exploits in standard difficulty modes but removed them from the more challenging Honour Mode, which seems like a fair approach. Although Palworld doesn't have a mode as strict as Honour Mode, Pocketpair could potentially adopt different strategies across its difficulty levels in the future.
But, it's wise not to consider this approach as a final statement about the game's development. Once major issues are fixed in Palworld, Pocketpair might focus on addressing more exploits. Even if the change Pocketpair apologized for was accidental, it's unlikely the studio will bring back a bug once it's fixed. While capturing tower bosses was fun, it's probably gone for good in Palworld, although the game might keep some of its most enjoyable glitches.
