Video game collaborations have become a major trend, often as a way to capitalize on the popularity of established franchises. Typically, these collaborations appear in mobile gacha games or as in-game cosmetic items in titles like Fortnite or Call of Duty, designed to entice players into spending money on limited-time themed content.
However, there are instances where collaborations are purely aimed at delighting gamers and fans, such as Stellar Blade‘s crossover with NieR: Automata. In a surprising twist, Pocketpair has announced that Palworld will receive a major update this December, featuring an unexpected crossover with Terraria.
One of the standout games of the year, Palworld, is set to collaborate with the indie classic Terraria in 2025. Pocketpair, the developer of Palworld, confirmed the news while hinting at an additional “exciting” update coming soon. Palworld launched in early access to critical acclaim on PC and Xbox, quickly becoming one of the most played games on Steam with a peak of 2.1 million concurrent players.
Within its first six days, the monster-taming game sold over 8 million copies and has since surpassed 15 million units sold on Steam alone, cementing its status as a massive success while big-time AAA developers fall flat on their faces with big budget flops intertwined with progressive ideology.
Despite its popularity, Palworld has faced controversy, particularly from Nintendo loyalists who criticized its perceived similarity to Pokémon. In September, Nintendo filed a lawsuit against Pocketpair for copyright infringement, claiming $65,600 in damages. The lawsuit specifically targeted the shared mechanic of capturing creatures using a ball-like object, Poké Balls in Pokémon and Pal Spheres in Palworld citing patents 7545191, 7493117, and 7528390.
While the lawsuit’s impact seems less severe than anticipated, it is likely Pocketpair will settle the matter. Regardless, Palworld continues to thrive, with its indie developers now announcing an exciting crossover with Re-Logic’s Terraria, teasing a blend of the two beloved games in an upcoming update.
The Tokyo-based developer has yet to reveal specifics about the Palworld–Terraria collaboration, only confirming that it is slated for 2025 with more details to follow. Responding to the announcement on Twitter, Pocketpair’s Global Community Manager, Bucky, teased fans with, “Bet you didn’t see this one coming.”
The news sparked excitement among fans, with one remarking, “That’s a crossover I didn’t expect.” Pocketpair also hinted at additional “exciting news” tied to Palworld’s next update, expected to be shared soon.
The idea of Palworld and Terraria collaborating sparks curiosity about how their distinct mechanics might intersect. Both games share a sandbox-style foundation, emphasizing resource gathering, crafting, building, and combat, yet their core gameplay experiences differ significantly.
One intriguing possibility for Terraria could be the introduction of a creature-capturing system to enhance combat, moving beyond its traditional focus on cosmetic pets.
The last time Terraria made headlines, it was surrounded by controversy due to a decision by its developers, Re-Logic, to revise the game’s character customization system in version 1.4.5. This update would reportedly remove male and female sex descriptors in favor of a more “inclusive” approach that avoided gender definitions, aiming to accommodate a broader spectrum of identities.
Thankfully, it appears that the proposed changes to Terraria’s character customization system may not be implemented after all. Re-Logic either decided against the update or clarified that the controversy stemmed from a misunderstanding. However, skepticism remains warranted, as version 1.4.5 has yet to officially launch.
Meanwhile, Palworld is gearing up for a major update this month, introducing a massive new island to its world six times the size of Sakurajima, the game’s first add-on island. The Palworld Sakurajima Update brought a surge in player activity, with fans returning to explore the new features and meet the latest Palworld Pals. This upcoming addition promises to be the largest and most challenging expansion yet, further enriching the game’s growing universe.
In the midst of Pocketpair’s ongoing lawsuit with Nintendo, Palworld received a small update that alters how Pals are summoned in-game. Players can no longer throw a “Pal Sphere” to summon their creatures at a distance; instead, Pals now appear instantly around the player.
This change, seemingly minor, has had a significant impact and has sparked mixed reactions. The throwing mechanic was a quirky and well-loved feature, and its removal is believed to be a direct response to Nintendo’s legal concerns over the similarities between Palworld’s Pal Spheres and Pokémon’s Poké Balls.
Unsurprisingly, modders have already stepped in to reintroduce the old summoning system, allowing Pals to spawn where the reticle is aimed. However, this official change signals Pocketpair’s intent to address Nintendo’s grievances, potentially paving the way for further adjustments to the game as the lawsuit progresses.
It’s unfortunate, as there’s much to look forward to in Palworld. The game is currently enjoying a 25% discount during holiday sales and has a large-scale update scheduled for release later this month, alongside a major collaboration planned for next year.
While this alteration casts a shadow over the title, Palworld remains an ambitious and evolving experience with a bright future.
