If you’ve been watching the Fortnite survey circuit lately, you might’ve noticed a familiar face pop up: Palworld. Epic Games recently added the creature-collecting survival game to its in-game survey, the same tool it sometimes uses to gauge interest in potential crossovers. That alone is worth a raised eyebrow, but the timing gets weirder.
Less than 24 hours later, Pocketpair’s head of publishing, John “Bucky” Buckley, took to X to ask Palworld fans which Pal they’d most like to see get a skin—with a thick layer of CYA legalese. “Theoretically, hypothetically, conceptually, and spiritually…if, with absolutely no promise of it being realized or coming to fruition ever,” he wrote. The wink-and-nod was hard to miss.
Why Fortnite Wants Pals
This isn’t just another random collab rumor. Fortnite’s current season has leaned hard into creature collecting with its Sprites—little critters players can capture, trade, and evolve. The mechanic has been a hit, boosting player numbers and giving the Battle Royale a slice of that Pokémon-shaped gameplay loop. This week, Epic also announced it’ll spotlight player-made games featuring pet-like Sidekicks, which are basically Pals waiting to happen.
Fortnite’s appetite for crossovers is well documented. Resident Evil, Street Fighter, God of War, Halo—if it’s a gaming icon, it’s probably been a skin. Leakers have whispered that the next season might be fully gaming crossover-themed, with Sonic, Kingdom Hearts, and Persona rumored to join the party. Dropping Palworld into that mix would feel less like a stretch and more like a natural fit.
The Pokémon Elephant in the Room
Of course, you can’t talk about Palworld and Fortnite without addressing the franchise that shadows both. Nintendo and Pokémon remain conspicuously absent from Fortnite’s roster. Epic reportedly explored a Mario crossover during the game’s explosive heyday, when Kratos, Aloy, and Master Chief were dropping in. Nintendo refused, reportedly worried about its characters appearing on rival consoles. Years later, despite obvious opportunities (a Super Mario Galaxy movie crossover, anyone?), the door remains shut.
That absence works in Palworld’s favor. Palworld’s big 1.0 update landed earlier this month, pulling the game out of early access and bringing a resurgence on Steam. But the game’s relationship with Pokémon is still messy. Several Pal designs were quietly altered so they no longer resemble Pokémon quite as closely. At the same time, a new Pal—a giant whale—was added that some fans think is a little too close to a certain Water-type. Pocketpair didn’t respond to IGN’s request for comment on the changes.
Legal Clouds and a Judgment Looming
All of this unfolds against the backdrop of The Pokémon Company’s ongoing patent lawsuit against Pocketpair. The legal battle, which centers on gameplay mechanics rather than visual designs, has already prompted gameplay changes in Palworld. A judgment is expected later this year. That’s the kind of uncertainty that might make Epic think twice—or might not matter at all if the crossover is structured as a promotional skin set rather than a deep integration.
Pocketpair, for its part, seems eager. Bucky’s original January post publicly invited Epic to reach out, ending with a winking emoji. Now that survey data exists, and the question about skins is out there, the pieces are moving. Whether anything actually materializes is another story, but the tea leaves are spelling out Pals in Fortnite louder than a Splash Potion.
What’s Next for the Palworld-Fortnite Connection
No official announcement has been made, and neither Epic nor Pocketpair has confirmed anything. But the pattern is clear: survey interest, public teasing, and a Fortnite season that’s already built for creature collecting. Meanwhile, Palworld continues to thrive, with over 40 million players since its early access launch and a firm $29.99 price tag that Pocketpair has promised not to raise. If the lawsuit goes Pocketpair’s way—or even if it doesn’t—the Fortnite door might be the most obvious next step.
For now, we wait. Theoretically, hypothetically, and spiritually.
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