Palworld's next update is called Side by Side, and Pocketpair says it's coming in Winter 2026. That's all the studio has confirmed so far: no release date, no patch notes and no feature list. Nothing changes on your server today, but it's worth knowing what a major Palworld update usually means for a dedicated server before this one lands.
What Pocketpair has announced
The announcement came on 20 October, at the end of the Global Popularity Poll 2026 results post on Steam. In full, the update part reads:
"We have an exciting announcement! Our next update, "Palworld: Side by Side," is officially coming in Winter 2026! Stay tuned for more info coming soon!"
The key art above is the only other thing Pocketpair released with it: three silhouetted characters standing behind the logo. The studio hasn't said who they are, and the name on its own doesn't tell you much.
Is Side by Side a new game?
No. A few days after the reveal, John "Bucky" Buckley, Pocketpair's head of publishing and communications, posted on X to say that Side by Side is version 1.1 of Palworld. It's an update to the game you already own, not a sequel or a spin-off, so your server stays a Palworld server.
Anything else you read about what's in it is guesswork for now. Pocketpair's own channels haven't published a single feature, and the studio says more information is on the way.
When it lands
"Winter 2026" is the whole window. Pocketpair hasn't named a month, so anything from December to the end of February fits. When a date appears on Steam, this post will be updated with it.
The same post named the poll winners, if you're curious: Sekhmet, Solenne and Chillet topped the Pal category, and Zoe, Auri and Saya the character category.
What your server needs to do
Nothing yet. When 1.1 comes out, the order that keeps your world safe is the same as for any major Palworld update:
- Take a backup before you update. On a self-hosted server that's the
Pal/Saved/SaveGamesfolder and yourPalWorldSettings.ini. - Update the server once the new build is out. Players' clients update themselves through Steam, and players on the new version may not be able to join a server still running the old one.
- Hold off on mods until they're updated. Mods that hook into the game's code (UE4SS and the mods that run on it) depend on the exact build, so a big update can stop them working until their authors catch up. Check each mod's page for a 1.1 release before you turn it back on.
- Read the patch notes for server settings. If 1.1 adds or renames settings in
PalWorldSettings.ini, a copy of the file from before the update won't know about them.
Tip: On LOW.MS, take a backup from the Backups tab, then press Update in the Game updates card on your server's Overview tab. Your server's settings live on the Manage tab, and the panel writes PalWorldSettings.ini from them every time the server starts, so you don't edit the file by hand.
Self-hosting? The dedicated server is Steam app 2394010:
steamcmd +login anonymous +app_update 2394010 validate +quit
If settings don't seem to apply after the update, WorldOption.sav vs PalWorldSettings.ini explains the most common cause. For mods, How to Add Mods to Your Palworld Server is the place to start, and Palworld 1.0: What Actually Changes for Your Dedicated Server covers the last big update. You can also browse Palworld server hosting if you're setting up a server for 1.1.
What's coming next
- Winter 2026: Palworld: Side by Side (version 1.1). Pocketpair's post promises "more info coming soon", so expect details on Steam before the release itself.
FAQ
Is Palworld: Side by Side free?
Pocketpair hasn't said it's paid DLC, and Buckley describes it as version 1.1 of the game. Like the updates before it, it's expected to arrive as a normal update. Check the store page once the release date is out.
Will Side by Side wipe my world?
Nothing Pocketpair has posted mentions a wipe. Take a backup before updating anyway, because it's the only way back if something goes wrong.
What's the release date?
There isn't one yet. "Winter 2026" is everything Pocketpair has given.
Will my mods break?
Plan for some of them to. UE4SS-based mods are the most likely to need an update from their authors after a major patch.
Does the server need updating at the same time as players?
Yes. Players update through Steam automatically, so update the server as soon as the new build is available, or players on 1.1 may not be able to join.
Sources: Pocketpair's Global Popularity Poll 2026 Results & New Update post on Steam.