The developer shared the news alongside the results of the Palworld Global Popularity Poll 2026. In its announcement, Pocketpair confirmed the update’s name and release window but did not provide an exact launch date or a detailed list of features. The studio said more information would be revealed soon.
For now, players should be cautious about speculation surrounding the update. Pocketpair has not officially confirmed which new Pals, locations, missions, gameplay systems, or other features will be included in Side by Side. Its announcement also does not establish whether the update will introduce a major expansion or focus on improvements to existing gameplay.
What Pocketpair Has Released Since Palworld 1.0
Palworld officially left Early Access with the release of Version 1.0 on July 10, 2026. The launch introduced substantial additions to the open-world survival game, including the floating islands of Sunreach, the long-awaited World Tree area, and 72 new Pals. The update brought the total roster to 287 Pals and introduced changes to combat, base building, multiplayer, and graphics.
Pocketpair has continued refining the game through post-launch patches. Version 1.0.4, released on September 6, added two sub-missions, titled “Beyond Dimensions” and “From the Far Side of the Moon.” It also included gameplay adjustments, changes to fishing, improvements to base-building systems, performance optimizations, and numerous bug fixes.
The subsequent Version 1.0.5 update, released on September 14, focused on bug fixes. It addressed an issue that caused terrain, building, and other textures to load at significantly reduced resolutions for some players. The patch also fixed a problem that could cause certain map icon filters to turn off after a player respawned.
These releases demonstrate continued post-launch maintenance and gameplay support. However, the previous patches do not establish a regular release schedule or confirm which specific improvements will be included in the next update.
What Players Can Expect From Palworld’s Future Updates
Although the contents of Palworld: Side by Side remain unannounced, the upcoming update is the clearest officially confirmed indication of another development milestone for the main game. Players may be hoping for additional Pals, more exploration opportunities, new missions, and further refinements to multiplayer and base management, but none of those possibilities has been confirmed for this release.
A recent interview published on October 18 also offered insight into Pocketpair’s approach to expanding the Pal roster. The studio’s head of publishing and communications, John “Bucky” Buckley, discussed the importance of making new Pals memorable and giving them distinctive characteristics. His comments provide context about the team’s design priorities, but they do not constitute a feature announcement for Side by Side.
Pocketpair is also developing projects connected to the broader Palworld franchise, including the separate farming-focused game Palworld: Palfarm. The studio has explained that certain concepts work better as standalone games rather than being added as modes to the original title. These projects should not be confused with confirmed content for the main game’s upcoming update.
Palworld: Side by Side Release Window
As of October 20, 2026, Pocketpair has announced Palworld: Side by Side for Winter 2026, but a specific release date and detailed patch notes have not been confirmed in the announcement. Players will need to wait for the developer’s next official update to learn what the release will include.
Until those details arrive, the confirmed information is straightforward: Side by Side is the next announced Palworld update, and Winter 2026 is its currently stated release window. Any claims about particular new creatures, regions, missions, or gameplay features should be treated as speculation unless Pocketpair officially confirms them.