Skip to main content
Join The Community
- Join our community
11
Premium Benefits
24/7
Access Available
21K+
Active Members
Commenting
Join the discussion
Exclusive Articles Coming Soon
Member-only articles
Weekly Newsletters
Weekly gaming & entertainment news
Member Badges
Earn badges as you go
Exclusive Competitions
Members-only prize draws
Curated Deals Coming Soon
Tech and gaming deals worth grabbing
GET COMMUNITY ACCESS QUICK
For the quickest way to join, simply enter your email below and get access. We will send a confirmation and sign you up to our newsletter to keep you updated on all your gaming news.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
GET Community ACCESS QUICK

Join the GamesRadar community for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Background
Welcome to GamesRADAR+ Community !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Badge picture
Earn your first badge
Read 1 article to unlock your first badge.
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Latest Games News

Latest Games News

Breaking gaming news and updates

Read Now
Latest Games Reviews

Latest Games Reviews

Expert verdicts on the newest releases

Read Now

See what you’ve unlocked.

Explore your membership benefits.

Explore
Member Exclusives

Stay Ahead with GamesRadar+

Get the biggest gaming news, reviews, and releases straight to your inbox.

Explore

Sign Out
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
  • home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • View Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
    • View Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
Trending
  • Crimson Desert
  • Pokopia
  • Arc Raiders
  • The Boys S5
  • Starfield
  • Submit your clips. Win prizes
Don't miss these
Kliff resting by a stream in a forest in Crimson Desert
Action RPGs Crimson Desert players are literally running out of enemies to fight
A Crimson Desert villain snarls at the camera
Open World Games Crimson Desert's "enemy density issue is very real in the late game," says Palworld publishing chief
Screenshot from Peak's Play It Your Way update shows a player standing in front of a campfire.
Co-op Games Peak co-dev says endless content updates would mean titles like its iconic friendslop hit "wouldn't exist"
Temtem: Pioneers screenshot shows players riding around on Temtem.
Survival Games Palworld dev wishes "nothing but the best" for new Temtem survival game
Screenshot from Windrose, showing a pirate aiming down the sights of her rifle while standing in front of tropical trees.
Survival Games "It would just be Palworld 2": Pocketpair says adding a feature from the viral game it's publishing is impossible
Pickmon
Survival Games Pokemon and Palworld clones are officially out of hand, as fans react to "lawsuitmaxxing" new game Pickmon
A distressed Peak character
Co-op Games Peak co-developer Landfall reminds impatient fans it's not a live-service studio
Crimson Desert: Cliff Macduff looking out into the distance during the new game, Crimson Desert.
Open World Games Crimson Desert "makes me feel a sense of wonder I've not felt since Oblivion," says Palworld publishing chief
Arc Raiders characters drinking at a bar
Third Person Shooters As Arc Raiders gets stale for some, dev says players "reaching the end of our content" are a focus
Palworld
Survival Games Pocketpair publishing head reacts to Pokemon and Palworld ripoff Pickmon: "Someone is a fan of the genre, I guess"
Pokopia screenshots on Switch 2
Pokemon After depleting Pokopia's natural resources, maybe my Pokémon friends would be better off without me
Palworld
Survival Games "Palworld is going to be the survival crafting game everyone always wanted" after 1.0, says Pocketpair publishing lead
Load screen artwork for Atticus in Highguard, leaping in front of clouds with a charged lightning spear
PUBG PUBG boss was "sad" to see Concord and Highguard get shut down, but hopes to learn from their mistakes
Two Peak characters amid a giant chess set
Co-op Games Peak co-dev turned indie investor puts its friendslop fortune into helping devs find a better way
A woman in witchy garb surrounded by crows and dead trees in Crimson Desert
Open World Games Palworld dev reluctantly goes back to work instead of playing more Crimson Desert
  1. Games
  2. Survival Games
  3. Palworld

"Who cares if there's only five people playing": Palworld community lead says you should "just play the games you like" without worrying about "dead" games

News
By Anna Koselke published 29 July 2024

With no "dead" games, there'd be more "soulless live service games"

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Palworld screenshot showing a young woman with tied-back bright red hair and purple armor petting her Pal, a large white and purple Xenogard
(Image credit: Pocketpair)
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Want to add more newsletters?

GamesRadar+

Every Friday

GamesRadar+

Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.

GTA 6 O'clock

Every Thursday

GTA 6 O'clock

Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.

Knowledge

Every Friday

Knowledge

From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.

The Setup

Every Thursday

The Setup

Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.

Switch 2 Spotlight

Every Wednesday

Switch 2 Spotlight

Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.

The Watchlist

Every Saturday

The Watchlist

Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.

SFX

Once a month

SFX

Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!


Join the club

Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
Subscribe to our newsletter

Palworld's community lead says people should focus more on playing the games they like, and spend less time worrying about 'dead games.' 

Palworld itself is no stranger to what some call a 'dead' game. Around launch, it held Steam's second-highest active player peak of over two million players before settling these days at around 30,000 concurrent players on average. It's less than it was, sure, but still pretty healthy. 

For community lead John 'Bucky' Buckley, that's just fine. In an interview, he says everyone should "just play the games you like" without worrying about a title's longevity - "If you finish in a day, cool." Bucky doesn't think "it really serves anyone to kind of push gamers to just play the same game day in, day out." While there are some games "designed to be" long-term titles, like MMOs, most aren't - and that's okay.

Article continues below
You may like
  • Palworld Palworld lead admits the team can get "swept up" in negativity
  • Pal wields a massive turret in a screenshot from Palworld Palworld lead hits back at claims Pocketpair "dgaf" about its survival hit, jokes "we should drop 1.0 right now"
  • Palworld Pocketpair lead says "apologies to all the professional Palworld haters," but "it's not really our problem"
YouTube YouTube
Watch On

"A lot more people are trying to push gamers to play games that aren't really designed to be played for months on end," Bucky explains, going on to describe how this "push" against "dead" games can be harmful. "I don't think you need to be pushing yourself to play the same game all the time. It's not healthy for developers, it's not healthy for gamers, it's not healthy for gaming media, and it's just not healthy for our industry."

The community manager then points to the rise of live service games as an example of how looking at "dead" or "dying" games negatively can backfire. "The more we push this kind of narrative, the more very large companies are going to just say 'gamers want more live service' and we're just going to get more of these like really soulless live service games that come out and then get shut down . . . because they're not making enough money. We all lose in that case."

As Bucky concludes, players should "just enjoy games" regardless of whether or not they're considered "dead" or will be one day. "Who cares if there's only five people playing?" I can agree with this sentiment myself - there's only one player that matters at the moment while you're playing a game, and that's you. As long as you "just enjoy yourself" in the process, of course.

Palworld community lead says really, "We didn't AI generate any Pals" and "no lawsuit ever existed" following viral Pokemon comparisons

Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
CATEGORIES
PC Gaming Xbox Series X Platforms Xbox
Anna Koselke
Anna Koselke
Social Links Navigation
Staff Writer

After spending years with her head in various fantastical realms' clouds, Anna studied English Literature and then Medieval History at the University of Edinburgh, going on to specialize in narrative design and video game journalism as a writer. She has written for various publications since her postgraduate studies, including Dexerto, Fanbyte, GameSpot, IGN, PCGamesN, and more. When she's not frantically trying to form words into coherent sentences, she's probably daydreaming about becoming a fairy druid and befriending every animal or she's spending a thousand (more) hours traversing the Underdark in Baldur's Gate 3. If you spot her away from her PC, you'll always find Anna with a fantasy book, a handheld video game console of some sort, and a Tamagotchi or two on hand.

Read more
Palworld
Survival Games Palworld lead admits the team can get "swept up" in negativity
 
 
Pal wields a massive turret in a screenshot from Palworld
Survival Games Palworld lead hits back at claims Pocketpair "dgaf" about its survival hit, jokes "we should drop 1.0 right now"
 
 
Palworld
Survival Games Pocketpair lead says "apologies to all the professional Palworld haters," but "it's not really our problem"
 
 
Palworld
Survival Games "We have no desire to be a media empire," says Palworld publishing head but Pocketpair would be stupid to let it die out
 
 
Palworld Pal with shocked expression
Survival Games "I wouldn't rule out a Palworld 2.0," says Pocketpair publishing head, but don't expect a "No Man's Sky situation"
 
 
Screenshot from Peak's Play It Your Way update shows a player standing in front of a campfire.
Co-op Games Peak co-dev says endless content updates would mean titles like its iconic friendslop hit "wouldn't exist"
 
 
Latest in Survival Games
TemTem pioneers screenshot showing people flying on beasts
Survival Games Studio behind one of the best monster-taming games around rejects the "Pokemon killer" tag
 
 
Palworld
Survival Games Palworld 1.0 is "still in the oven," lead says, teasing we'll see more "when it's nearly done"
 
 
Subnautica 2
Survival Games Krafton's publisher status vanishes from Subnautica 2 Steam and Epic Games Store pages amid ongoing legal drama
 
 
Pickmon
Survival Games Pokemon and Palworld clone Pickmon changes its name by one letter to "better align with our brand identity and lore"
 
 
Hytale
RPGs Hytale devs hire Minecraft modders behind incredible Create mod
 
 
No Man's Sky creatures
Survival Games No Man's Sky Xeno Arena update feels like "a really great and simplified Pokemon clone," fans say
 
 
Latest in News
FPS Games Ahead of Metro 2039 reveal, series author Dmitry Glukhovsky says it "will be darker than anything you've seen before"
 
 
Daredevil: Born Again
Marvel TV Shows After Mike Colter's big Daredevil: Born Again season 3 spoiler, there's a new fan theory linking Matt Murdock to Spider-Man: Brand New Day
 
 
Botw
Games Xbox co-creator is more interested in Switch 3 than Project Helix
 
 
Action Movies The Metal Gear Solid movie has competition, as an Escape from New York remake has been officially announced
 
 
Graveyard Keeper
Simulation Games Giving your game away on Steam can earn you $250,000 in a few days, says Graveyard Keeper publisher
 
 
Cortana
Xbox Xbox co-creator says Project Helix will struggle with Microsoft investors "psychotically interested" in AI
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Graveyard Keeper
    1
    Giving your game away on Steam can earn you $250,000 in a few days, says Graveyard Keeper publisher: "Makes sense when you have a lot of DLC"
  2. 2
    GTA 6 PC release remains unconfirmed, but Rockstar leak reveals that could be because GTA Online gets 97% of its cash from consoles
  3. 3
    Don't freak out, but Nintendo just dropped an egg-dorable Yoshi teapot set and plushies
  4. 4
    Arc Raiders' latest patch fixes crashes and issues before Riven Tides, but with another Project slated to expire, players say it's "utterly ridiculous" Embark still hasn't added a timer
  5. 5
    Studio behind one of the best monster-taming games around rejects the "Pokemon killer" tag, says its upcoming survival game isn't replacing anyone

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...