Palworld 1.0 Exits Early Access Tomorrow — The World Tree Is Finally Open

by Geth Author

Palworld, Pocketpair's survival crafting game that launched as one of the most-played Early Access titles in Steam history, is exiting Early Access tomorrow, July 10, 2026, with version 1.0. Pocketpair confirmed the date during Summer Game Fest 2026, marking the conclusion of an 18-month development run in which the game grew from a viral phenomenon into a polished, content-rich title.

Version 1.0 arrives simultaneously on PC (Steam and the Microsoft Store), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Game Pass. For anyone who already owns the game, 1.0 is a free update — no separate purchase required.

The World Tree Is Finally Open

The headlining addition is the World Tree — the enormous landmark that has loomed in the background of the game world since launch, visible but blocked off behind an impassable barrier. In 1.0, it becomes a fully explorable region and the setting for the conclusion of Palworld's main story. The World Tree hosts reworked Tower bosses and its own distinct ecosystem of Pals.

Beyond the World Tree, the 1.0 update adds more than 20 new Pals, new floating-island locations, offshore base building, the Wing Pack flight equipment, a Wildlife Sanctuary overhaul, and a full suite of story-driven missions. Existing progression — your world, bases, and Pal collection — carries over from Early Access. Pocketpair has advised players who want the full intended experience to start a fresh save, though it's not required.

A Long Road From the Early Access Explosion

Palworld launched in Early Access in January 2024 to staggering numbers — it peaked at over 2 million concurrent players on Steam within its first week, making it one of the fastest-selling games in the platform's history. The following 18 months saw regular content updates and a legal dispute with Nintendo over alleged design similarities, ultimately settled in early 2025. Through it all, the game maintained a steady and active playerbase.

The 1.0 release closes that chapter. It delivers the structured narrative ending the game's world has been promising since launch — the World Tree looming in the distance was never just scenery.

What 1.0 Is Not

Pocketpair has been clear that 1.0 doesn't mean the end of development. Post-launch content, seasonal updates, and additional Pals are already planned. Version 1.0 signals the completion of the core game loop and story, not a hard stop on new features. For a game that grew the way Palworld did, the 1.0 label is more of a milestone than a finish line.

If you've been waiting for the game to leave Early Access before jumping in, tomorrow is your date.