Palworld on Nintendo Switch 2? Pocketpair says it's worth considering

Since Palworld exploded in popularity, there have been no shortage of comparisons to Pokémon, often described as "Pokémon with guns". Pocketpair has made it clear that it's not their favorite label, but the similarities have led many fans to question: will the game come to Nintendo Switch?

According to John 'Bucky' Buckley, communications director of Pocketpair, it's not in the plans - at least for now. "If we could make the game run on the Switch, we would, but Palworld is a very heavy game."

Nintendo Switch 2: a real possibility?

During the Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2025, Buckley spoke with journalists about the possibility of a port to the much-speculated Nintendo Switch 2. The answer? The studio is interested, but they haven't had access to the hardware to evaluate if it's feasible.

"We haven't seen the specifications. Like everyone else, we're waiting. I'm walking around GDC hoping someone will tell me, but so far no one I've talked to has seen it."

Buckley explained that Pocketpair has already optimized for the Steam Deck, ensuring good performance on Valve's handheld. With that, the idea of bringing Palworld to other handheld consoles is something the studio would like to explore. "If the Switch 2 is powerful enough, it's definitely worth considering."

Does Nintendo's lawsuit affect this conversation?

The big elephant in the room is Nintendo's lawsuit against Pocketpair, accusing the studio of infringing patents related to monster capture mechanics. This has led some to speculate that this may be the real reason why Palworld has not reached the original Nintendo Switch.

But, according to Buckley, the lawsuit is not the main obstacle. In his presentation at GDC, he briefly commented on the case, revealing that the team was caught off guard. "Practically everyone at Pocketpair is a big Pokémon fan, so it was a very depressing day, everyone walking with their heads down in the rain."

Given this situation, the question that remains is: even if the Nintendo Switch 2 is powerful enough, would Nintendo allow a game with which they already have legal conflicts on their platform?

For now, everything remains in the realm of speculation. The studio seems more focused on improving the player experience. Recently, Palworld received an update bringing crossplay between platforms, making it an ideal time for those who want to revisit the game.

And you, would you like to see Palworld on the Nintendo Switch 2?