Pocketpair dropped a new trailer on November 21, 2025 announcing the Home Sweet Home update for Palworld launches December 17 across all platforms. The winter update brings a collaboration with retro-styled FPS Ultrakill, introducing cosmetic skins based on that game’s protagonists V1 and V2, alongside expanded base building features including material recoloring and new creative tools. The trailer concluded with confirmation that Palworld will exit early access with its version 1.0 full release sometime in 2026, marking a major milestone after nearly two years of development.
The Ultrakill Collaboration
Palworld’s second major crossover partners with Ultrakill, the fast-paced first-person shooter that launched into Steam early access in 2020. The collaboration brings cosmetic skins allowing players to dress as V1, Ultrakill’s blood-fueled robot protagonist, and V2, its successor model. Pocketpair promises unprecedented high-speed combat on the Palpagos Islands, suggesting the crossover includes more than just cosmetics.
Details remain sparse, but promotional materials confirm weapons and gear from Ultrakill will appear in Palworld. Given that Ultrakill focuses heavily on stylish gun combat with weapons like the Piercer Revolver and Electric Railcannon, expect firearms themed after that game’s arsenal. The collaboration follows Palworld’s successful Terraria crossover earlier in 2025, which included new Pals, weapons, armor, and dungeons alongside cosmetic items.
Enhanced Base Building Focus
The Home Sweet Home title reflects the update’s emphasis on base customization and personalization. The headline feature allows players to recolor building materials, matching structures to personal aesthetic preferences rather than being locked into default textures. This seemingly simple addition dramatically expands creative expression, letting players coordinate color schemes across entire bases or create visually distinct zones for different purposes.
Pocketpair described additional creative elements being added without specifying exactly what those entail. Based on the trailer and update description, players can expect more detailed and personality-filled bases than ever before. The update aims to make bases feel like actual homes rather than purely functional structures, addressing community feedback about wanting more cozy, personalized living spaces within the survival crafting framework.
What’s NOT In This Update
Notably absent from the Home Sweet Home announcement are new Pals, a new island, or major story content. This represents a deliberate shift in Pocketpair’s development strategy as they prepare for the version 1.0 launch. In September 2025, communications director John Buckley explained that content between the Feybreak update and version 1.0 would slow down, with the team prioritizing optimization, bug fixes, and gameplay refinements over massive content drops.
Home Sweet Home qualifies as exactly the kind of smaller-scale update Pocketpair promised, focusing on quality-of-life improvements and specific feature additions rather than expanding the game’s scope. This approach disappoints some players expecting content on par with the massive Feybreak expansion from December 2024, but reflects responsible development practices as the team works toward a polished full release.
Version 1.0 Confirmed For 2026
The trailer’s biggest reveal came at the end with confirmation that Palworld exits early access with version 1.0 in 2026. Pocketpair first announced this timeline in September 2025, explaining that the full release represents a major milestone requiring extensive cleanup beyond just adding new content. The team described version 1.0 as having a truly massive amount of content planned, positioning it as the definitive Palworld experience.
No specific release window within 2026 has been announced, though mid to late year seems likely given the early 2024 early access launch. The version 1.0 update will refine the experience based on feedback received throughout early access, addressing longstanding issues, polishing rough edges, and adding substantial new content saved specifically for the full launch. This approach mirrors successful early access titles like Valheim and Hades that took years perfecting their games before official release.
Palworld’s 2025 Journey
The Home Sweet Home update caps off Palworld’s eventful second year since launching into early access January 19, 2024. The game became an instant phenomenon, selling over 25 million copies within its first month and breaking Steam concurrent player records. The explosive success brought intense scrutiny including comparisons to Pokemon and legal concerns about potential intellectual property issues, though Nintendo and The Pokemon Company haven’t pursued action beyond general statements.
Major updates throughout 2025 expanded Palworld significantly. The Sakurajima update in June introduced a massive new island, additional Pals, raid bosses, and the level cap increase to 55. The Feybreak expansion in December 2024 delivered an even larger island six times the size of Sakurajima, new faction leaders, weapons, and mechanics. Between major updates, Pocketpair released numerous patches addressing bugs, balancing gameplay, and implementing quality-of-life improvements based on community feedback.
Cross-Platform Availability
Home Sweet Home launches simultaneously across all platforms December 17, including PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, Xbox One, and PC via Steam and Microsoft Store. The update is also available through Xbox Game Pass, where Palworld remains one of the service’s most-played titles. This day-and-date multiplatform strategy distinguishes Palworld from many early access games that prioritize PC before expanding to consoles.
The consistent cross-platform support has helped Palworld maintain its massive player base across different ecosystems. While exact current player counts aren’t publicly available, the game continues appearing in Steam’s top played charts and regularly trends on Xbox platforms. The simultaneous update releases prevent the fragmentation that plagued other early access survival games where PC players enjoyed months of exclusive content before console versions caught up.
Community Reception
Fan reaction to the Home Sweet Home announcement appears mixed. Players excited about base building and cosmetic customization appreciate the quality-of-life focus, viewing material recoloring as a long-requested feature that significantly enhances creative freedom. The Ultrakill collaboration also generated enthusiasm from fans of both games, with many expressing excitement about the stylistic crossover between cute creature collecting and ultra-violent FPS aesthetics.
However, some community members expressed disappointment about the smaller scope compared to Feybreak, expecting another massive content expansion rather than a primarily feature-focused update. Reddit discussions show players debating whether Home Sweet Home qualifies as a proper winter update or merely an incremental patch. Pocketpair’s transparency about intentionally scaling back between major releases helped temper expectations, though not everyone reads developer communications closely.
The Path to Version 1.0
Palworld’s approach to early access follows a roadmap balancing ongoing content delivery with preparation for full release. Rather than continuously expanding scope indefinitely, Pocketpair set a clear endpoint with version 1.0 in 2026. This timeline-driven development prevents the perpetual early access trap where games never officially launch, remaining in beta status for years while players question if they’ll ever see a finished product.
The company’s September announcement emphasized that slowing content additions doesn’t mean development is scaling back. Instead, resources shift toward optimization, bug fixes, gameplay refinement, and creating the massive version 1.0 content drop. This strategy prioritizes delivering a polished, complete experience over rushing out half-baked features to maintain constant content velocity. Whether this pays off depends on player patience and the quality of the eventual 1.0 release.
Legal Status Update
The Palworld patent lawsuit filed by Nintendo and The Pokemon Company in September 2024 remains ongoing as of November 2025. The case alleges patent infringement related to game mechanics rather than copyright violations over creature designs. Pocketpair has stated they intend to fight the lawsuit vigorously, maintaining their game doesn’t infringe on Nintendo’s patents. The legal situation hasn’t prevented continued development or distribution across platforms.
Despite the lawsuit’s cloud, Palworld’s commercial success and player engagement remain strong. The game continues selling on all platforms without restrictions, and platform holders like Sony, Microsoft, and Valve haven’t pulled the title from their stores. The December 17 update proceeds as scheduled, suggesting Pocketpair remains confident in their legal position or has structured development to minimize disruption regardless of lawsuit outcomes.
FAQs
When does the Palworld Home Sweet Home update release?
The Home Sweet Home update launches December 17, 2025 simultaneously across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, Xbox One, and PC via Steam, Microsoft Store, and Xbox Game Pass.
What’s included in the Home Sweet Home update?
The update features an Ultrakill collaboration bringing V1 and V2 cosmetic skins plus weapons and gear from that game, material recoloring for base building, and additional creative elements for enhanced base customization. It focuses on quality-of-life improvements rather than major content expansion.
When is Palworld leaving early access?
Palworld exits early access with version 1.0 in 2026. No specific month has been announced. Pocketpair described version 1.0 as a major milestone with a massive amount of content planned.
Will there be new Pals in this update?
Pocketpair hasn’t confirmed new Pals for the Home Sweet Home update. The focus appears to be base building improvements and the Ultrakill collaboration rather than creature additions.
What is the Ultrakill collaboration?
The collaboration with indie FPS Ultrakill brings cosmetic skins based on that game’s robot protagonists V1 and V2, plus weapons and gear from Ultrakill appearing in Palworld. Pocketpair promises unprecedented high-speed combat on the Palpagos Islands.
Is Palworld still in the Nintendo lawsuit?
Yes, the patent infringement lawsuit filed by Nintendo and The Pokemon Company in September 2024 remains ongoing. The case hasn’t prevented continued development or distribution of Palworld across all platforms.
What platforms support Palworld?
Palworld is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, Xbox One, and PC via Steam and Microsoft Store. The game is also included with Xbox Game Pass on both console and PC.
How much does Palworld cost?
Palworld costs approximately $30 USD on Steam and Microsoft Store. It’s included with Xbox Game Pass at no additional cost for subscribers. All updates including Home Sweet Home are free for existing owners.
Conclusion
The Home Sweet Home update represents Palworld’s shift from aggressive content expansion toward refinement and preparation for version 1.0. While smaller in scope than previous major updates, the focus on base building customization addresses persistent community requests for more creative freedom. The Ultrakill collaboration adds personality through an unexpected crossover that blends Palworld’s cute aesthetic with ultra-violent FPS stylings. Most importantly, the confirmation of version 1.0 in 2026 gives players a clear timeline for when early access ends and the complete Palworld experience officially launches. Whether Pocketpair can deliver on the promised massive 1.0 update while maintaining player engagement through smaller interim releases will determine if this strategy succeeds or if fans lose patience waiting for the finished product.