Palworld Sakurajima Update: Overview and release on 27 June 2024
Since launch, Palworld has become one of the year’s most popular survival games. Its mix of open-world survival gameplay, base building, farming and the ever-popular Pals captivates millions of players worldwide. With the major Sakurajima Update on 27 June 2024, the next phase begins: a completely new region, fresh Pals, an additional faction, new weapons, quality-of-life improvements, PvP content and even a raid boss.
In this article you’ll find all key additions in detail, why they meaningfully change the game, and how to use them optimally for your progression.
Palworld island Sakurajima: New region, resources and biomes
At the heart of the update is the new island Sakurajima, located in the south-east of the world. Cherry blossom trees, mystical temples and a varied biome mix make the region a visual highlight – and a gameplay hotspot.
The island is designed so players at every stage can benefit:
- New resources such as rare woods, minerals and crafting materials.
- Exclusive Pals that only appear on Sakurajima – including particularly powerful creatures.
- Faction content: the new faction has established its base in the island’s interior.
Tip: Plan sufficient carry capacity and tool durability so you can farm rare materials efficiently and bring them safely back to base.
New Pals on Sakurajima: Abilities, locations and team strategies
The update introduces several brand-new Pals, inspired by Japanese folklore and mythology – fitting for the cherry blossom island. The newcomers expand your team synergies and open up new tactics in combat and base building.
A few highlights:
- Sakura Kitsune: An elegant fox with cherry blossom fur; excels with fast attacks and powerful fire abilities.
- Torai: A burly Pal, ideal for base building; particularly efficient at chopping wood and hauling.
- Kaiju-inspired boss Pals: Challenge you in epic battles and, once captured, become mighty allies.
Hunting tips: Make use of elemental advantages, apply debuffs before capture, and bring specialised traps to significantly increase the capture rate.
New faction in Palworld: Sakurajima Mercenaries, bases and loot
Sakurajima introduces a new faction: the Sakurajima Mercenaries. These enemies are better organised, use tactics, co-ordinate group fights and come equipped with high-end gear.
Their bases present fresh challenges:
- Multi-tiered fortresses with traps, watchtowers and chokepoints.
- Enemies that deploy Pals tactically and establish area control.
- Loot chests with exclusive blueprints and rare materials.
Attack tip: Scout the fortress from the outside first, disable alarm systems, use ranged weapons for watchtowers, then secure the courtyard with area damage.
Raid boss in Palworld: Ancient Guardian – phases, tactics, rewards
A definite highlight is the new raid boss on Sakurajima: the Ancient Guardian. This giant demands team co-ordination, solid preparation and clean positioning.
Watch out for:
- Multiple phases with increasing difficulty and shifting mechanics.
- Special attacks that require dodging, interrupts or shields.
- Unique rewards via an expanded loot system.
Team tip: Combine tanks (damage soaking), support/healing (survivability) and burst DPS (push phases quickly). Keep movement speed buffs ready to avoid ground effects.
New weapons and gear in the Sakurajima Update
To help you master the new content, the update adds fresh weapon types and equipment:
- Flamethrower: Massive area damage against groups and add-heavy encounters.
- Energy katanas: Powerful melee weapons with high mobility and precision.
- Specialised traps: Increase the capture chance of large Pals.
Practical tip: Test weapons on your base’s training area and use elemental combinations to exploit resistance gaps.
Quality of life and balancing: Patch changes at a glance
Pocketpair has integrated numerous quality-of-life improvements – much of it directly from community feedback:
- Overhauled UI: Clearer overview and faster inventory management.
- Improved Pal AI: More reliable in combat and base building.
- Adjusted spawn rates: Rare Pals are easier to find.
Use the new options to streamline routine tasks and invest more time in exploration and team-building.
PvP, arenas and dedicated servers: Settings, stability, cross-play
The update expands PvP content: alongside classic duels there are arenas on Sakurajima with clear rules and improved spectator visibility.
Important for communities: Dedicated servers receive new options – ideal for clans and events.
- Improved stability for large player counts.
- More admin options for rulesets, rates and whitelists.
- Cross-play support for shared events.
Tip: If you want maximum control and performance, you’ll benefit from your own 4Netplayers server – so you can tailor the world precisely to your playstyle.
Conclusion on the Sakurajima Update: Endgame, returning players and outlook
The Sakurajima Update is more than a regular patch – it’s a game-changer for Palworld. The new region, additional Pals, an exciting faction, a raid boss and numerous quality-of-life improvements take the game to the next level.
Whether you’ve been there since release or you’re jumping in fresh: Sakurajima provides compelling reasons to return, rethink teams and tackle the endgame. And one thing’s clear: the world of Pals still has plenty more to give.
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