Garena has announced that it has entered a licensing agreement with Palworld developer Pocketpair to develop a new MMORPG based on the creature-collecting survival crafting game. Dubbed Palworld Online, the title is currently in development for Android and iOS, and is slated for release later this year.
Palworld Online is being designed to “reimagine” elements of the original Palworld while being designed from the ground up for mobile devices. Being an MMORPG, it will also feature an interconnected open world where players can run into one another as they go about their creature-collecting adventure. This also means that players can form groups to take on the game’s various quests and missions as a team.
Garena president Terry Zhao said in a statement that the team is working closely with Pocketpair with a focus on “preserving the depth, immersion, and freedom that define Palworld, while thoughtfully optimizing the experience for mobile play.” The decision to make Palworld Online came about thanks to the original Palworld being “a widely recognized IP” that offers “an opportunity to bring the essence of the PC title to mobile in a way that encourages players to connect and venture together.”
The open world of Palworld Online will allow players to explore interconnected ecosystems alongside their Pals, rewarding their efforts with hidden treasures, hints about the overall lore, and even more challenging encounters. Along the way, players can also capture and raise Pals to unlock new regions on the map. The title will include exclusive side stories that will tell more of the world’s story.
As for its multiplayer aspects, Palworld Online is mainly designed around co-op play. This means that it will include social features like creating groups and building up shared settlements. However, this doesn’t mean that there will be a complete absence of PvP. Players can challenge each other in battle to prove who among them is the best player with the most well-defined team of Pals.
Palworld Online won’t stray away from the survival crafting aspects of the original. Players can set up their own settlements that can eventually be grown into large collaborative hubs where many can come together to craft and train. The automation mechanics of Palworld will also be brought in, giving players more freedom to partake in other gameplay systems while their Pals handle the gathering, crafting, and building.
Pocketpair CEO Takuro Mizobe has praised Garena for its extensive experience with mobile games, including aspects like global publishing and localization. “We are pleased to work with Garena on the licensed development of Palworld Online and look forward to seeing a new Palworld experience brought to players Worldwide.”
The unveiling of Palworld Online comes less than a month after Palworld exited Early Access. In our review of the full release, we gave it a score of 9 out of 10 thanks to its sense of charm, visual style, and engaging core gameplay loop that offers plenty of variety. Our only problem was that it doesn’t do much with its narrative. Reports have indicated that the title has been quite successful, having made around $700 million in revenue since it first came out in 2024.
