Palworld Side by Side: Everything We Know About the Winter 2026 Update

Palworld Side by Side release date

Pocketpair has not given an exact release date. The only official window is Winter 2026, printed right on the key art. The studio announced it in a press release that also shared the results of its 2026 popularity poll, saying the next update, "Palworld: Side by Side," is "officially coming in Winter 2026," and asked players to stay tuned for more info coming soon.

Side by Side is the first major content update since Palworld left Early Access with version 1.0 on July 10, 2026. Since then, the game has mostly received bug fixes and balance patches, plus a couple of new sub-missions.

Is Side by Side a new game? No, it is update 1.1

The name sounds like a subtitle for a sequel, and the moody key art convinced a lot of players that Pocketpair was announcing a brand new game. Head of publishing and communications John "Bucky" Buckley set the record straight on X: "Palworld Side by Side is v1.1 by the way. I thought that was pretty clear, but it seems quite a few people thought it was a new game announcement."

So Side by Side is simply the name of Palworld update 1.1. As a regular update to the base game, it should be available to everyone who already owns Palworld.

How big is the Side by Side update?

Not huge, according to Bucky. Speaking to MP1st, he said "1.1 isn't a massive update," but added that "we do think players will be pretty happy with it." He also explained that the team is "not quite ready to start teasing it just yet," which is why details are so thin.

Do not expect a flood of new creatures either. Bucky has said Pocketpair is not going to "release 100 new Pals with the next update" and that the team tries to add Pals in a meaningful way, so that every Pal has something memorable. After 72 new Pals arrived with the massive 1.0 patch, Side by Side will likely add few new Pals, if any. And if you were still hoping for an underwater biome, Bucky has repeatedly said it is not happening.

The teaser: Zoe, Auri and Saya?

The only official look at Side by Side is a key art showing three blacked-out silhouettes on a neon blue and purple background. The one in the middle carries an assault rifle on her shoulder, while the other two carry blades. Many players read them as Zoe, Auri and Saya, which happen to be the top three characters in the 2026 popularity poll announced the same day.

Combined with the name "Side by Side," that has fueled speculation that the update could let you fight alongside the game's main human characters. Auri and Saya are both Tower Bosses, so some outlets suggest they might become recruitable companions. None of this is confirmed by Pocketpair.

Palworld Global Popularity Poll 2026 results

The poll ran in September 2026 with more than 280 Pals and in-game characters on the ballot, and Pocketpair says it received even more votes than last year. The winners were split into two lists:

• Pals: 1. Sekhmet, 2. Solenne, 3. Chillet
• Characters: 1. Zoe, 2. Auri, 3. Saya

Full rankings and per-language breakdowns are on the official poll website.

When will we learn more?

Pocketpair only says more info is coming soon. Some outlets expect a reveal at The Game Awards on December 10, but that is speculation, not an announcement. Side by Side will land on the platforms Palworld is already on: PC (Steam and Microsoft Store), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One. To play together across them, see our Palworld crossplay guide.

Get your Palworld server ready for Side by Side on AxentHost

On launch day, a Palworld server has to run the same version as your players' game, or nobody can join. It is much easier to have your server set up ahead of time than to scramble the night the patch drops.

With AxentHost, you can start your Palworld server today, invite your friends or your community and keep building your world until winter. Auto update is enabled by default, so when Side by Side releases, a simple server restart pulls the new version. Just remember to back up your world first.