Pocketpair has announced Palworld Online, a new massively multiplayer online game for iOS and Android, slated to arrive sometime in 2026. The game is being developed by Garena under an official Pocketpair license, and while many fans might wince at the word ‘mobile,’ the companies are betting on a broader audience.
According to Garena, Palworld Online ‘reimagines the depth, freedom, and scale of the original PC survival creature-collecting title for mobile.’ It will feature a new narrative setting with original story elements, plus side stories created exclusively for this version. Core gameplay remains familiar: crafting, creature collecting, and multiplayer options for co-op, PvP, and PvE. The game also promises a seamless open world, base building, and the signature Pal capturing.
The user interface will be streamlined for touch controls, with optional one-tap controls for base management on different screen sizes. That’s a key feature for mobile adaptation, which often faces the challenge of cramming complex PC mechanics into a smaller interface.
Pocketpair CEO Takura Mizobe said in a statement that the project is part of the company’s strategy to expand the Palworld IP. Just recently, a Palworld card game was also released, and the company has been aggressively hiring to keep up with the demands of the main game. This mobile title, however, is being handled externally.
Garena, based in Singapore, is no stranger to mobile adaptations. The developer has worked on dozens of games over nearly 15 years, including titles like Path of Exile, League of Legends, Need for Speed, and EA Sports FC. That track record might offer some reassurance to those skeptical about a mobile version.
It’s worth noting that there is already a Palworld mobile game from Krafton, but that one is separate. Palworld Online is described as a new MMO experience with a fresh setting and expanded lore. Questions remain about microtransactions, which are standard on mobile but nonexistent in the main game. Neither Pocketpair nor Garena has commented on that yet.
Palworld community manager Bucky posted a chart on social media explaining why he won’t be the point person for this game, jokingly clarifying that his focus remains on the main title. The chart illustrated how the various partnerships work, highlighting that mobile projects are handled by dedicated teams.
The release date is still vague, just ‘later this year.’ If it arrives on schedule, Palworld Online could give players a new way to engage with the world while they wait for the Palfarm spin-off announced last year.