Palworld warns mods must be removed before 1.0 update

Pocketpair has warned Palworld players that simply turning mods off before the game’s 1.0 update will not prevent crashes, corrupted save files or hard blocks on quest and event progression. The developer warned leftover mod files and mod loaders can still be loaded at startup even if mods are disabled, and urged players to remove mod files manually and verify the game install before updating.

The warning was issued ahead of Palworld’s full 1.0 release, planned for around 12:30 JST on July 10 (4:30am BST / 5:30am CEST; July 9 at 8:30pm PT / 11:30pm ET). Pocketpair has supported modding since Palworld’s early access period and noted the 1.0 update makes significant changes to the game’s systems; mods created during the game’s first year are especially likely to cause problems after the transition.

Pocketpair outlined steps for players who have ever installed mods. First, back up save data through Steam by right-clicking Palworld in the library and selecting ‘Manage’. If using Steam Workshop items, unsubscribe from all workshop mods. Then open the game’s local install folder (Manage > Browse local files) and delete the Pal\Binaries\Win64 and Pal\Content\Paks folders. After removing those files, return to the game’s Steam properties and run ‘Verify integrity of game files’ to restore official files.

The developer advised checking that the game runs correctly with no mods installed before downloading or applying the 1.0 update. If problems continue, uninstalling Palworld and deleting the full local files directory before reinstalling is recommended, particularly for players who last reinstalled before using mods.

Once players are on the new version, Pocketpair recommends reinstalling mods only after confirming creators have updated them for 1.0 and testing each mod individually. The company added that issues caused by mods or modified game data are not covered by official support.

Community manager John ‘Bucky’ Buckley wrote: “This is actually quite important, gamers,” stressing that disabling mods is insufficient and that files must be removed manually. Pocketpair also thanked modders for their work during early access and said the guidance aims to reduce the risk of data loss and progression blockers when the update lands.

Earlier, we reported that Xbox Game Pass will add Palworld 1.0 to its cloud, console and PC catalog in July.