Why Is Palworld Not On PS5 And Nintendo Switch?

Palworld is one of the most popular games in the world at the time of writing this article and surprisingly, the early access version is only available on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. This begs the question – why is Palworld not on PS5, PS4 and Nintendo Switch? The game is perfect for the Switch player base, and the huge chunk of gamers on PlayStation are also missing out on this survival-crafting-monster-taming title.

Here’s what is known about Palworld on PS5 and Switch; whether it is coming or not and if yes, what could be the potential release date.

Source: Pocketpair

Why is Palworld not on PS5?

It’s possible that Pocketpair has an exclusivity agreement with Microsoft for a limited time, restricting release on other platforms like the PS5 and PS4. However, it’s unclear how long it will last. Will the full launch of the game be on PlayStation? Only time will tell.

Palworld was a day 1 release on the Game Pass and has become the biggest 3rd party Game Pass launch ever. It also became the most-played 3rd party day-one release via cloud gaming with Game Pass Ultimate.

Source: Xbox

In an article, it was also revealed that Xbox is working with Pocketpair to provide support for the Xbox versions of the game. Due to the overwhelming number of players, and of course, server load, Xbox has mentioned that they are “providing support to enable dedicated servers, offering engineering resources to help with GPU and memory optimization, speeding up the process to make updates available for players, and working with the team to optimize the title for our platform.”

Since Palworld is in early access, the developer might be focusing resources on ensuring a smooth PC and Xbox launch before expanding to other platforms. Porting and optimizing the game for PS5 might require additional time and effort and the devs might prioritize stability and performance on their current platforms before tackling potential porting issues.

The developer hasn’t officially disclosed specific reasons for not releasing Palworld on PS5 yet and there could be other factors not mentioned here influencing their decision.

Palworld PS5 Release Date

As per Pocketpair’s Discord, Palworld on PS5 “will be considered during development” so it’s not entirely ruled out, however, there is no release date yet. We will make sure to update this article when there’s an official announcement.

Source: Pocketpair

Why is Palworld not on Switch?

Palworld is a monster-taming game with heavy inspiration and similarities to the Pokemon IP, which is owned jointly by Nintendo, Game Freak, and Creatures. While there is no copyright infringement in Palworld (because if there was…Nintendo would have taken action already), it will be interesting to see if the game eventually releases on the Nintendo Switch. Pokemon Company’s former top attorney Don McGowan has called the game a ‘ripoff nonsense’ in a conversation with Gamefile so there’s that.

The viral game even had a Pokemon mod featuring Ash, Misty, Pikachu, and more, but it was promptly taken down by Nintendo and so were the videos about it. Here’s the statement released by The Pokemon Company:

[bs-quote quote=”We have received many inquiries regarding another company’s game released in January 2024. We have not granted any permission for the use of Pokémon intellectual property or assets in that game. We intend to investigate and take appropriate measures to address any acts that infringe on intellectual property rights related to the Pokémon. We will continue to cherish and nurture each and every Pokémon and its world, and work to bring the world together through Pokémon in the future.” style=”default” align=”center” color=”” author_name=”” author_job=”” author_avatar=”” author_link=””][/bs-quote]

Another thing to consider is that the Nintendo Switch has limitations about the games it can run, and Palworld has some high requirements that may cause it to not work too smoothly on the Switch. So, if Nintendo/The Pokemon Company does decide to join hands with Pocketpair and release the game on the Switch, it will certainly be something mind-blowing, but may also need extra work to ensure it works well.