Palworld’s Upcoming Stronghold Highlights Its World Design Problem

Palworld is looking to implement a good amount of content with its next major update. But while the additions aim to improve the game’s player experience by giving them more to do and enjoy, they also bring a few issues. One, in particular, involves a structure bound for the massive Palworld update as it highlights one of the biggest problems concerning world design.

The Sakurajima update is coming to Palworld on June 27 and aims to improve and expand the game with new content. However, the oil rig stronghold involved in the update, as big and welcome as it is, raises concerns about the game’s world design inconsistency. Although the new structure is an additional area for players to explore, its appearance makes it feel like it doesn’t belong in Palworld‘s setting. Such a concern calls attention to the game’s overall aesthetic problem, making it more prominent.

Why the Oil Rig Stronghold’s Appearance Is a Problem

If Palworld players can create a base that looks like an oil right, then Pocket Pair takes it a step further by making it an actual structure in the game. While the stronghold’s addition provides a new layer of gameplay and intrigue with its unknown mechanics and features, its appearance can lead to the following issues:

• Its realistic and standoffish look makes the structure feel like a huge disconnect from the game’s fantasy-like setting
• The structure’s design highlights the game’s strange choice of having highly advanced technology in a primitive/modern hybrid world
• Its inclusion potentially signals that the developer could include even more out-of-place tools and structures in future updates

Implementing an oil rig may help feel as if the game’s world is expanding, but it comes at the cost of aesthetic stability. There is already the issue of Palworld having creatures looking too close to those of Pokemon, negatively affecting the perception of the monster-capturing title. Having another issue involving the game’s world design aspect may further that.

Reasons Why Palworld Should Stop Its Design Inconsistency and How It Could Be Solved

Establishing the setting is important as it helps with player immersion and sets expectations on what content to look forward to in future updates. Palworld has many beautiful locations, and adding structures that look as if they belong in them can make the game more appealing and inviting. If the developers were to add whatever buildings or tools they wanted, regardless of whether it matches the world’s theme, it could lead to confusion caused by clashing aesthetics.

One way it could potentially mitigate the game’s current aesthetic problem is if a future major update involves other islands with their own unique plot and settings. They can be set in the industrial and futuristic age, explaining why Palworld has structures that need to be unlocked with technology points or how there is equipment that feels as if it doesn’t belong in the current timeline. It may not be easy to implement, but it could be a step towards helping the game explain why it has such seemingly random content, much less strongholds.

Palworld shouldn’t rest on its early access laurels as there are still so many ways for the game to improve and issues to fix. The Sakurajima update is a step in that direction, but it also brings its own problems. While adding an oil rig stronghold highlights the overall design inconsistency, it can also be used as a lesson on what content Pocket Pair should consider in the future.

Palworld

Pocket Pair’s Palworld is a creature-collection game set in an open-world. Entering early access on January 19, 2024, the project blends survival, building, farming, monster breeding, and shooter elements.

Released

January 19, 2024

Developer(s)

Pocket Pair, Inc.

Publisher(s)

Pocket Pair, Inc.

Engine

Unreal Engine 5

ESRB

T For Teen Due To Violence

How Long To Beat

36 Hours

X|S Enhanced

Yes

File Size Xbox Series

6 GB (February 2024)

Number of Players

1-4 (Co-Op); 32 Players Server Limit

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