Palworld players finally have a name and a season for the next big update. Pocketpair announced Side by Side for Winter 2026, but almost everything else about it is still under wraps.
This guide covers the current Palworld update status: what the studio has confirmed, how it relates to the long-discussed version 1.1, the patch history since the full launch, and what players are voting for. Every claim is tied to a source listed at the bottom.
Checked on October 20, 2026. The announcement is only hours old, so details may change quickly.
What Is the Palworld Side by Side Update?
According to GamerFuzion and iGame Magazine, Pocketpair announced the update through a Steam post on October 20, 2026, alongside the results of its 2026 Global Popularity Poll. The key art shows three silhouetted figures under the Side by Side logo and the words Winter 2026. The studio said more information is coming soon.
That is the full list of confirmed facts. No month, date, price, platform detail, trailer or feature list has been announced. Any guess about what Side by Side adds, including ideas that it relates to playing alongside Pals or other players, is speculation from writers, not Pocketpair.
The takeaway: Side by Side is real and dated only to Winter 2026. Treat every feature rumor as unconfirmed until Pocketpair shows it.
Is Side by Side the Palworld 1.1 Update?
Neither source says so. The articles refer to Side by Side as the next update and do not mention a version number, so it is not confirmed to be 1.1.
What Pocketpair did say about 1.1 came earlier. Pocketpair’s head of publishing and communications, John Buckley, said on X in mid-August that the studio was not planning to spend a year on a massive update for 1.1, according to allthings.how and Beebom. Those reports list items Pocketpair said are not planned for 1.1, including a new continent or biome, a higher level cap, new Pals or variants, and larger bases. They are based on his posts, so they describe that update’s stated scope, not the contents of Side by Side.
The takeaway: Do not assume Side by Side equals 1.1 or that it will be small. Neither has been connected by the studio.
Palworld Patch History Since 1.0
Palworld left early access with version 1.0 in July 2026. Push Square reported the launch on July 10, with a US price of $29.99, 72 new Pals (287 total), the Awakening and Mutation mechanics and a new area called Sunreach. Since then, Pocketpair’s Steam news page lists these patches:
| Version | Steam post date | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | July 9 | Full release changelog |
| 1.0.1 | July 14 | Save data loss and campfire burning bug |
| 1.0.2 | July 28 | Server crashes, multiplayer and mission fixes |
| 1.0.2 hotfix | July 30 | Loading screen after the World Tree boss |
| 1.0.3 | August 11 | Balance changes and bug fixes |
| 1.0.4 | September 6 | Balance changes, new sub-missions, fishing and building updates |
| 1.0.5 | September 14 | Texture loading and map icon filter fixes |
Some trackers list dates one day later than the Steam posts, likely because of time zones, so check the exact patch post if a date matters. I found no patch newer than 1.0.5 in the sources checked, though the Steam page I read was truncated, so confirm on Steam before relying on that.
The takeaway: Version 1.0.5 is the latest patch I could find. Side by Side would be the first major content update since launch.
Palworld 2026 Popularity Poll Results
The announcement came with poll results. Voting ran from September 1 to September 28 and drew 271,234 ballots across 17 languages, according to GamerFuzion, with English voters casting 157,376 of them.
| Rank | Top Pal | Top character |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sekhmet | Zoe |
| 2 | Solenne | Auri |
| 3 | Chillet | Saya |
Four of the top five Pals were added in 1.0. Pocketpair has not said that the poll will influence Side by Side, so do not read it as a feature hint.
What Is Not Confirmed
- The exact release date or month for Side by Side.
- Whether Side by Side is version 1.1.
- Any new Pals, islands, bosses, modes or price.
- Console release timing relative to PC.
- Anything about the Palfarm spin-off or a mobile game, which have no dates in the sources I checked.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Trusting leaks: Roadmap and leak videos often mix rumors with fact.
- Treating Winter as December: Pocketpair gave a season, not a month.
- Using old patch notes: Many top results are from 2024 and describe early access versions.
- Assuming the poll picks content: It measures popularity, not development plans.
FAQ
When does the next Palworld update come out?
Pocketpair says Side by Side arrives in Winter 2026. No exact date has been given.
What is the latest Palworld patch?
Version 1.0.5, posted on Steam on September 14, was the newest I found.
Will Side by Side add new Pals?
Unknown. No features have been announced.
Is Palworld out of early access?
Yes. Version 1.0 launched in July 2026.
Final Thoughts
The honest summary is short: a name, a season and a lot of silence. Until Pocketpair shares details, the best approach is to watch the official Steam news page rather than rumor videos. If you like creature collecting games, see our guide to the Pokopia expansion pass, our list of the best games of 2026 so far, and the Steam Next Fest October 2026 guide.
Sources:
- GamerFuzion: Side by Side update and poll results (Oct. 20, 2026)
- iGame Magazine: Side by Side announcement (Oct. 20, 2026)
- Steam Community: Palworld news and patch posts
- Push Square: Palworld 1.0 launch
- Beebom: Pocketpair on version 1.1 (Aug. 15, 2026)
- allthings.how: what Pocketpair said 1.1 will not add