Monster-taming hit Palworld may be available on Nintendo Switch 2 if the console has the specifications to the game. Pocketpair, the developer of Palworld, previously said bringing the game to the original Switch was not possible, though it appeared to be open to the idea.

However, with the dawn of the Nintendo Switch 2, Palworld fans may see the game come to the handheld console. Buckley, speaking to IGN at the Game Developers Conference, said Pocketpair is interested in bringing Palworld to the Switch 2, but the company hasn't been able to explore their options or see if a port is possible. Buckley explained:

"We haven't seen those specs yet. Like everyone else, we're waiting. I'm walking around GDC hoping someone will tell me them, but everyone I've spoken to says they haven't even seen them.

If it's beefy enough, it's 100% worth considering. We did a lot of optimization for Steam Deck, which we were really happy with. Still work to do, but we're really happy with how it turned out. So we would like to get it on more handhelds if possible."

Studios Still Don't Know How Powerful Nintendo Switch 2 Is

Nintendo Hasn't Revealed Much About Its Next Console

A trailer for the console released in January 2025, and while the Switch 2 is slated for a 2025 debut, no specific dates have been announced. Nintendo has kept plans for its latest console under wraps, revealing a few select details in the Switch 2's announcement trailer, including glimpses of updated Joy-Cons and what seems to be a new Mario Kart game. It appears at least some developers, including Pocketpair, have been kept in the dark about the Switch 2's specifications.

Bringing Palworld to the Switch 2 could target a key demographic for Pocketpair: Pokémon fans. Nintendo currently holds the distribution rights for Pokémon and new games are exclusively released on its own consoles, so die-hard fans of the monster-taming genre likely already own a Switch.

Nintendo Switch 2 Needs Third-Party Games Like Palworld With Full Parity

Nintendo Releases Alone Aren't Incentive Enough For Players

Yes, fans adore Nintendo-made games like Mario Party and Animal Crossing: New Horizons, but Nintendo's own releases are not enough to sustain player engagement or brand loyalty. The Switch 2 will need to provide access to third-party games, including Palworld, with cross-platform parity to stay relevant.

The gaming industry has changed since the Switch came on the scene in 2017, with indie games and small studios throwing their projects onto the circuit to great success. If the Switch 2 does not have the specifications to popular releases like Palworld, Nintendo may not have the release response it's hoping for. The company is hosting a Nintendo Direct in early April to provide more information about the Switch 2, but in the meantime, fans of Palworld and handheld consoles will have to hold their breath.

Source: IGN