Palworld's PvP reveal could lead to more Pokemon problems
Oh we are so back. While the critics will claim Palworld has dropped off since it entered early access in January 2024, the bloodthirsty monster catcher still has a regular peak of over 100,000 concurrent players and has seen a big spike since the release of its Bellanoir raid.
Developer Pocket Pair promised us a slew of features to ensure we'll keep coming back, and more than just new Pals and islands to explore, quality of life features, boss battles, and the big win of PvP were all promised. As the team didn't lay out an official roadmap, we've been left wondering when each of these will arrive.
Palworld PvP is coming in 2024
Turning itself into its very own Pokemon Stadium, Palworld's much-hyped PvP was announced at the Triple-i Initiative event. Dubbed Pal Arena, it lets players battle against each other by literally stepping into the ring with their Pals by their side.
Wannabe Pal masters will train their strongest team as players battle against others by pitting both themselves and their Pals against them. Although we only get a snippet of footage, we see a beefy lineup of Pals while their trainers dive between them, shooting guns and crossbows.
Although there's no solid release date, we're told Pal Arenas is coming this summer, meaning there shouldn't be too long to wait. Seeing the spike that raids brought, the addition of PvP should see Palworld's player numbers soar, and from the look at the fan response, things are looking good. Well, if you're a player.
Pokemon problems
Click to enlargePalworld has managed to evade Nintendo and The Pokemon Company's legal threats for now, but the reveal of Pal Arena has only opened up old wounds. For those of a certain age, you'll know few things could compare to the thrill of booting up Pokemon Stadium on the N64 and pummeling your pals.
We're not alone in spotting the similarities, and even though Pokemon Stadium didn't put a gun in Pikachu's hand and have it shred Oddish like a little gem lettuce, the internet is awash in comparisons between the pair. Nintendo can't put a trademark on gladiatorial bloodsports, but that wouldn't stop it from trying.
One fan joked, "Damn Pokemon Stadium 3 looks good...," while another joked, "I would name it Palworld stadium just to piss Nintendo off hahahahah." The official Kick account even wrote, "Yall really pushing it huh 💀." Whether you think Pal Arena is a Pokemon Stadium rip-off or not, we know you'll all come crawling back.
