Steam hit Palworld appears more likely to crossover with Fortnite sooner or later, whereas Pokémon seemingly stays off the desk.
Again in January, Pocketpair head of publishing and communications John “Bucky” Buckley brazenly urged a crossover with Fortnite by way of a publish on social media, hoping to be a focus for Epic Video games. “If you happen to ever need to put Palworld in Fortnite simply attain out hehe 😇,” Bucky wrote — and it looks like Epic Video games may need taken curiosity.
This week, Epic Video games was noticed including Palworld to Fortnite’s in-game survey, which generally asks gamers to fee facets of the sport, or share particulars of different video games they’d performed lately. It is also a software that’s generally used to gauge curiosity in upcoming crossovers, with titles popping up earlier than crossover skins seem in-game.
Lower than 24 hours after this, Bucky mysteriously tweeted to ask Palworld followers which Pal creature they wish to see get a pores and skin sooner or later — with the caveat that he didn’t point out Fortnite by title, and said that his query was being requested “theoretically, hypothetically, conceptually, and spiritually,” with “completely no promise of it being realized or coming to fruition ever.”
Theoretically, hypothetically, conceptually, and spiritually…if, with completely no promise of it being realized or coming to fruition ever, but when…capital I and capital F…IF…any of the brand new Buddies in 1.0 have been to get a pores and skin, which wouldn’t it be and what would the pores and skin be?
— Bucky | Palworld (@Bucky_cm) July 21, 2026
Nonetheless, although, it is all fascinating timing. Fortnite has in fact teamed up with dozens of different video games prior to now for collaborations, together with enormous franchises comparable to Resident Evil, Road Fighter, God of Battle, and Halo. Certainly, rumors abound that Fortnite’s subsequent season might be totally gaming crossover-themed, with whispers from dependable Fortnite leakers that Sonic, Kingdom Hearts, and Persona are amongst these quickly to be becoming a member of the occasion.
May Palworld pop up too? It appears seemingly. Fortnite has lately leaned into creature amassing gameplay with the present season’s vastly well-liked Sprites, which gamers have been enthusiastically capturing and buying and selling, boosting the sport’s participant numbers by a good margin. Simply this week, Fortnite additionally introduced it might be quickly highlighting player-made video games that characteristic gameplay tied to its pet-like Sidekicks — which seem to be one other strong gameplay risk for a way Buddies may present up.
And all of this comes as Fortnite continues to crossover with just about each gaming model below the solar… apart from Nintendo. Epic Video games is known to have explored the opportunity of working with the Mario maker beforehand, through the recreation’s explosive heyday when it secured Xbox and PlayStation mascots comparable to Kratos, Aloy and Grasp Chief as in-game skins. However Nintendo reportedly refused to play ball, unsure about its characters showing on rival consoles. Years later, and regardless of loads of alternatives (a Tremendous Mario Galaxy Film crossover, anybody?) Nintendo and Pokémon stay absent — maybe to Palworld’s benefit.
Palworld is at the moment seeing a resurgance on Steam following its large 1.0 replace, although the query of whether or not it stays too uncomfortably near Pokémon nonetheless stays. That replace noticed a number of Pal designs quietly modified so that they now not resemble Pokémon fairly as carefully. Requested for touch upon the modifications by IGN, developer Pocketpair didn’t reply. On the similar time, yet one more Pal was launched — a large whale — that some followers consider was carefully impressed by yet one more Pokémon.
And naturally, all of this comes amid the continuing authorized battle between The Pokémon Firm and Pocketpair over the usage of patents, which seemingly prompted the latter to make gameplay modifications to be able to nullify its claims. A judgment is predicted later this yr.
Palworld’s 1.0 launch landed earlier this month, lastly bringing the sport out of early entry. Pocketpair mentioned on the time that it might not elevate the sport’s value past $29.99 as Palworld has “turn into successful past our wildest desires.” That assertion seemingly displays the truth that greater than 40 million gamers had dipped their paws into Palworld since its early entry launch.
Our Palworld Interactive Map has been up to date for 1.0, together with Watchtower Areas, so you may make certain to uncover every little thing new. We’ve additionally obtained a information to 1.0 Pal Breeding Combos and Methods to Get Hardwood, plus the Greatest 1.0 Mounts to Catch in Order, and the Quickest Flying Mounts in 1.0.
Tom Phillips is IGN’s Information Editor. You’ll be able to attain Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or discover him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
