When Pocketpair's monster-capturing survival adventure *Palworld* launched, it quickly drew comparisons to *Pokémon*, with many dubbing it “*Pokémon* with guns.” While this analogy has sparked curiosity and intrigue among fans of creature-collecting games, it’s not a label that Pocketpair embraces wholeheartedly. According to Communications Director John 'Bucky' Buckley, the studio understands the resemblance—especially given the game’s focus on capturing and bonding with cute, often quirky creatures—but the core gameplay experience is undeniably distinct.
Nonetheless, the similarities have led many players to wonder whether *Palworld* could ever make its way to Nintendo’s preferred platform: the Switch. Unfortunately, Buckley shared that such a release isn’t currently feasible, primarily due to technical limitations. “If we could make the game work on the Switch, we would,” he explained, “but *Palworld* is a beefy game.”
Challenges of a Potential Switch Port
During our conversation at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, I asked Buckley about the possibility of bringing *Palworld* to the rumored Nintendo Switch 2. He acknowledged the interest but noted that the team hasn’t had access to the hardware specifications yet. “We haven't seen those specs yet,” he said. “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.”
However, if the next-gen Switch proves powerful enough, Buckley made it clear that Pocketpair would seriously consider a port. “If it's beefy enough, it's 100% worth considering,” he added. The studio already optimized *Palworld* for the Steam Deck successfully, which gives hope that future handheld systems might be viable platforms. “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.”
The Nintendo Lawsuit: A Complicating Factor?
Pocketpair currently finds itself embroiled in a lawsuit with Nintendo over alleged patent infringement related to *Pokémon*'s ball-throwing mechanics. This legal battle has fueled speculation that it may be the real reason behind the absence of *Palworld* on Nintendo platforms.
However, Buckley clarified during his GDC talk that the lawsuit wasn’t an anticipated hurdle. The team had conducted extensive legal reviews before launch to avoid such issues. “Pretty much everyone at Pocketpair is a huge fan [of *Pokémon*],” he stated, expressing the emotional impact of the situation. “So it was a very depressing day, everyone heads down and walking in the rain.”
Despite the ongoing litigation, Buckley implied that the technical constraints of current Nintendo hardware remain the primary obstacle—not legal disputes or corporate tensions. That said, the question remains: would Nintendo allow a game it claims infringes on its intellectual property onto its next console?
Looking Ahead
Stay tuned as we’ll be publishing our full interview with Bucky Buckley later this week, offering deeper insights into the development journey of *Palworld*. In the meantime, now is a great time to jump back into the game, especially since the latest update introduced cross-platform play, making it easier than ever to enjoy the world of Pals with friends across different systems.
