Palworld Side by Side Update Arrives Winter 2026

Ready for more Palworld? Pocketpair has just revealed that the survival hit's next major update, called Side by Side, is set to launch in Winter 2026. The announcement came via a press release that confirmed the release window but kept most other details under wraps.

So far, all we have to go on is a single teaser image featuring three Pals completely blacked out. Pocketpair is staying tight-lipped, asking fans to "stay tuned for further updates on what this new content will bring." That's it—no gameplay, no new features, just a mysterious silhouette and a lot of speculation.

In the same press release, Pocketpair also shared the results of a recent popularity poll. If you guessed Sekmet took the top spot, you'd be right. Solene and Chillet rounded out the top three. The poll included 280 Pals and in-game characters, with separate lists for Pals and non-Pals. For the non-Pals, Zoe came first, followed by Auri and Saya.

While details on Side by Side are scarce, head of publishing and communications John "Bucky" Buckley has been chatting with the media about the studio's approach to content. He recently said the team won't "release 100 new Pals with the next update" because they believe "every Pal should have something" memorable. So don't expect a massive roster drop—maybe just a few standout additions.

That philosophy might explain why the teaser only shows three blacked-out Pals. And if you were hoping for underwater exploration, don't hold your breath—Bucky has repeatedly stressed that an underwater biome isn't happening. Instead, Pocketpair is focusing on spin-offs rather than chasing a Fortnite-style metaverse, with Bucky noting that "maximizing revenue as quickly as possible isn't what drives our creative decisions."

So what does Side by Side actually include? Your guess is as good as ours for now. But with a Winter 2026 window and a promise of more info to come, there's plenty to look forward to. Will you be jumping back in when the update drops? Let us know in the comments!