Palia, the cozy life-sim MMO from developer Singularity 6, is enjoying a massive resurgence in popularity thanks to its newest content update — the Elderwood Expansion. The update has pushed the game to record-breaking player counts on Steam and sparked renewed interest from both new and returning players.
📈 Steam Numbers Don’t Lie
According to SteamDB, Palia hit an all-time peak of 17,508 concurrent players on May 13, 2025 — a massive leap from its average of just over 4,000 in April. Even days after the expansion launched, the game remains well above previous player averages, with a current 24-hour peak of over 16,000 players and 13,437 online right now at the time of writing.
🌲 What’s in the Elderwood Expansion?
The Elderwood Expansion introduces significant new content, including fresh areas to explore, new crafting options, more critters to collect, and expanded storylines. This drop not only re-engaged lapsed players but also brought in newcomers curious about the buzz.
Palia has long offered a tranquil alternative to traditional MMOs. Think Stardew Valley meets World of Warcraft — where players garden, fish, mine, cook, and build friendships in a whimsical, persistent world.
🤝 Multiplayer Matters
Unlike many cozy sims, Palia is online-only, with a heavy emphasis on community interaction and multiplayer mechanics. That makes its active player base crucial to its long-term health — and recent numbers suggest the game is not only surviving but thriving.
🔮 What’s Next for Palia?
With momentum on its side, Singularity 6 may continue to roll out frequent updates, quality-of-life improvements, and community events to keep players engaged. The success of the Elderwood Expansion is proof that Palia has the potential to secure a lasting place in the MMO landscape.