Palworld dev explains Steam and Xbox differences, missing features: “We’re really at the mercy of the certification here”
Here’s why some important features are missing from Palworld on Xbox and Game Pass.
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What you need to know
Pocketpair’s new open world survival game Palworld has been enjoying a ridiculous amount of success since its recent Early Access launch on Xbox and PC, as well as Xbox Game Pass. Its creative blend of survival and base-building mechanics with a mix of creature collection and combat gameplay that’s basically “Pokémon with guns” has quickly become extremely popular, with the game now evenbreaking 1 million concurrent players and shattering Steam records. But while Palworld has prospered on Valve’s PC gaming client, players have noticed that the Xbox and Microsoft Store version is currently missing features and fixes.
Many — including myself — assumed this was due to Palworld’s earlier version number on Xbox at first. However, after joiningPocketpair’s Discord serverto try and find more information, I spotted a few recent posts from its community manager Bucky that clear things up. They said that the version numbers between platforms may always be different since they’re two different versions of the game, and that theactualreason why the Xbox version is currently missing features is because updates have to go through Microsoft’s certification queue.
“On Steam, applied 2 days ago. On Xbox, sitting in the MS certification queue,” wrote Bucky in areplyto a fan asking about when a hotfix would be pushed live. Then, in anotherresponseto a post about feature parity: “Some of these things will take extra time…we’re really at the mercy of the certification here. We’re desperately trying to speed this up.”
“Issues like the missing exit game button etc are not a result of an ‘older build’, these are separate issues. In fact, Steam and Xbox will likely never have identical version numbers until the games are brought to be cross play compatible because at that point they will be the same game internally,” they explained in alonger statement. “Again, that doesn’t mean Xbox is necessarily ‘behind’ or anything, they are just just fundamentally two different versions of the game because of the architecture on Xbox is different.”
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So, there you have it. While Pocketpair aims to get the Xbox/MS Store edition ofPalworldin line with the Steam one as soon as possible, it’s taking some extra time to do so because the developer has to go through Microsoft’s update certification process.
In terms of what’s actually different between the two editions of Palworld, Xbox and Microsoft Store users are unfortunately missing quite a bit.Players on Reddithave been taking note of everything in the Steam version that’s not in the others, and so far, that list includes the following:
If this situation sounds familiar, it’s becausesomething similar happened with Conan Exilesback in 2022. Notably, that problem was taken care of pretty quickly, so hopefully Pocketpair is able to get Palworld patched on Xbox and PC Game Pass/the Microsoft Store swiftly.
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Perhaps Microsoft could step in to help
While I’m glad that we now know why Palworld is currently missing features on Xbox, the Microsoft Store, andXbox Game Pass, that’s information I shouldn’t have to dig through a Discord server to find. Pocketpair should have made this clear on larger channels like its official Twitter account (or X, I guess), and I hope it does so if similar situations arise in the future. Although, it seems that right now, the game only has one community manager trying to field questions from every corner of the internet right now.
This would perhaps be the ideal kind of scenario for Microsoft to step in and offer some support. Right now, the game has ended up as a defacto timed exclusive for Xbox, owing to its Xbox Game Pass inclusion. I’m not sure Microsoft (or Pocketpair) expected the game to blow up like it has. Perhaps there’s a real opportunity here for Microsoft to offer improved support in exchange for ongoing exclusivity, given that Xbox often is criticized for its line up (although thelist of upcoming Xbox gamesis looking might spicy right now.)
Above all else, though, it’s just good to know that the Xbox / MS Store version of Palworld will get updated soon. Hopefully future patches are able to get through Microsoft’s certification process faster.
Palworld is available now on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One consoles, and Windows PC via either the Microsoft Store or Steam. It’s quickly become one of thebest Xbox gamesandbest PC gamesof 2024 so far, and it’s also playable through Xbox Game Pass.
Brendan Lowry is a Windows Central writer and Oakland University graduate with a burning passion for video games, of which he’s been an avid fan since childhood. He’s been writing for Team WC since the summer of 2017, and you’ll find him doing news, editorials, reviews, and general coverage on everything gaming, Xbox, and Windows PC. His favorite game of all time is probably NieR: Automata, though Elden Ring, Fallout: New Vegas, and Team Fortress 2 are in the running, too. When he’s not writing or gaming, there’s a good chance he’s either watching an interesting new movie or TV show or actually going outside for once.Follow him on X(Twitter).
