Palworld barges Dota 2 aside as PC player counts skyrocket following the game's 1.0 release

Palworld has surged in popularity following its 1.0 release, becoming the second most-played game on Steam with 489,007 concurrent players and an 855,525 one-day peak, surpassing Dota 2. While it hasn't matched its 2.1 million peak from early 2024, Forbes' Paul Tassi noted this is an impressive relaunch figure, boosted by Asian markets. The game's success is notable as a premium title compared to free-to-play competitors. Pocketpair's decision not to raise the price for the full launch, combined with a 30% discount, may have helped attract players. Despite ongoing legal battles with Nintendo, the game has maintained community support for over two years. Palworld has sold over 25 million copies by September 2025, though Eurogamer's Chris Tapsell criticized it as a product designed to be sold rather than played.