Palworld 1.0 Pals: All New Pals and Features in the Full Release

After more than two years in Early Access, Palworld’s 1.0 update is finally here. Developer Pocketpair rolled out the full release on July 10, 2026, bringing a massive wave of new content — including a host of new Pals — along with significant mechanical overhauls. Whether you’re a returning Tamer or jumping in for the first time, here’s everything you need to know about the launch timing, what’s new, and how to handle your existing save data.

Palworld 1.0 Release Time (Approximate)

Pocketpair narrowed down the rollout window to around 12:30 PM Japan Standard Time on July 10. In a Discord message, John “Bucky” Buckley, the studio’s communications director and publishing manager, stressed the estimate is “NOT 100% the exact launch time.” Translated across major regions, that means:

• Los Angeles: 8:30 PM PT on July 9
• New York: 11:30 PM ET on July 9
• London: 4:30 AM BST on July 10
• Tokyo: 12:30 PM JST on July 10
• Sydney: 1:30 PM AEST on July 10

Players should expect the update to go live within that window, but a slight delay is possible given the scale of the patch.

Should You Wipe Your Data for Palworld 1.0?

One of the biggest questions for existing players is whether to start fresh. Pocketpair’s official stance: you don’t have to wipe your save, but you probably should. “Players can continue their existing saves if they wish, as we want to respect the time and effort you have put in,” Bucky explained in a follow-up Discord post. “However, due to the large number of changes to the game, including overhauls to mechanics and new content, we believe that starting a new character will give you the best experience of Palworld! We will leave that choice up to you, Pal Tamers!”

The 1.0 update is not a simple content drop — it reworks core systems. If you carry over an old save, you may miss out on introductory quests, encounter balance adjustments, or early-game refinements that make the new Pals and progression feel more cohesive. Starting a new character ensures you experience everything as intended.

New Pals in Palworld 1.0

Pocketpair has been teasing 1.0 as the game’s most significant update yet, and the promise holds true. While the studio has not published exhaustive patch notes in the sources available (the update’s changelog was described as too large for Steam’s text field), Shacknews confirmed that the update brings “a plethora of changes and improvements to the survival creature-collecting game” including new Pals. Exact species counts and names remain unconfirmed, but the 1.0 rollout signals a major expansion to the roster.

Beyond new Pals, the 1.0 update overhauled mechanics across the board. The vague “overhauls to mechanics” Bucky mentioned likely include tweaks to the Pal capture system, base building, combat balancing, and possibly the controversial “forced labor” elements that drew early criticism. Quality-of-life improvements and performance enhancements are also expected.

A Look Back: Palworld’s Early Access Journey

Palworld launched into Steam Early Access and Xbox Game Pass in January 2024 at a $30 price point. It became an instant phenomenon, breaking sales and concurrent player records. The game’s blend of Pokémon-style creature collecting with survival crafting and third-person shooting struck a chord, though it also attracted scrutiny for its darker themes and allegations of asset reuse (which Pocketpair denied). Over the next two and a half years, the studio steadily rolled out updates, fixing bugs and adding content, but 1.0 represents the culmination of that work — the “full” vision of the game.

For newcomers, now is the perfect time to dive in. The 1.0 update stabilizes the experience, and starting fresh will let you discover the new Pals and redesigned early game without the baggage of an old save.

Palworld 1.0 is available on PC via Steam, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows Store through Xbox Game Pass. Check your platform’s store page for the update to begin downloading on July 10 (or late July 9 in North America).