The Sakurajima Update (version 0.3) was a major content expansion for Palworld, released on June 27, 2024. It introduced a brand-new island, new Pals, raid bosses, and much more. For tips on playing with friends, check out our guide on how to play Palworld with friends. Here's a detailed look at what the update brought to the game.
New Island: Sakurajima
At the heart of the update is the introduction of a brand-new island, Sakurajima. This island boasts diverse biomes, including stunning cherry blossom groves, lush forests, and treacherous mountains. The new environment offers players a fresh landscape to explore, rich with hidden secrets and new adventures.
New Pals and Subspecies
The Sakurajima Update expanded the Pal roster with exciting new Pals and their unique subspecies. These new creatures bring with them distinct abilities and characteristics, providing players with more options for building their teams and strategies. Whether you're looking for a fierce combat companion or a supportive ally, the new Pals enhance the gameplay experience.
Challenging New Bosses
The update introduced raid bosses and hard-mode bosses that require teamwork, strategy, and skill to defeat. These challenging encounters keep even the most seasoned players on their toes, offering rich rewards for those who emerge victorious.
The Oil Rig Stronghold
One of the most intriguing additions was the Oil Rig stronghold. This area serves as a high-stakes battleground, combining elements of resource gathering and strategic defense. Players need to defend their rig from waves of enemies while managing resources efficiently.
Expanded Building and Level Cap
The update brought new structures and crafting stations, allowing for more creativity and functionality in base construction. The level cap was also increased, giving players more room to grow and develop their Pals to new heights.
Xbox Dedicated Servers
The update included Palworld dedicated servers for Xbox players, ensuring smoother, more reliable gameplay for console users. You can also learn more about Palworld cross-platform play.
New Arena for PvP Battles
Competitive players got a dedicated PvP Arena with this update, offering a space for intense player-vs-player battles with new rewards and recognition for top competitors.
What's Come After the Sakurajima Update
Since the Sakurajima Update, Palworld has received several more major updates:
- Version 0.4 - Feybreak Island: Added another new island to explore
- Version 0.5 - Crossplay: Introduced cross-platform play between PC and Xbox
- Version 0.6 - Terraria Collaboration: A crossover event with Terraria
- Version 0.7 - Home Sweet Home (December 2025): Focused on improving base building and making it more intuitive
Palworld 1.0 Release
Pocketpair has confirmed that Palworld will exit early access in 2026 with a major 1.0 update called the World Tree update. This update is expected to finally open up the mysterious World Tree area that has been blocked by a red barrier since day one, introducing a vast new endgame territory with unique Pals, a final boss, and an ending scenario.
The 2026 roadmap also includes CO-OP crossplay improvements, world transfers for Pals, new Pals and technologies, and further game collaborations.
Conclusion
The Sakurajima Update was one of the most significant updates in Palworld's history, and the game has continued to receive major content drops since. With the 1.0 release planned for 2026, Palworld's best content is still ahead.