"It can't even be Pokemon Minecraft, you can't even craft": Pokopia leaves co-op fans disappointed, saying GameShare between Switch 2 and its predecessor "might as well not exist"

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"It can't even be Pokemon Minecraft, you can't even craft": Pokopia leaves co-op fans disappointed, saying GameShare between Switch 2 and its predecessor "might as well not exist" News By Anna Koselke published 11 March 2026

"Stay far away if you want this game for co-op"

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Cozy Pokemon spin-off Pokopia is impressing fans with its Animal Crossing: New Horizons vibes and Minecraft mechanics, but players hoping to enjoy the new Nintendo gem in co-op – particularly via GameShare – are expressing disappointment with multiplayer.

If there's one thing folks were looking forward to – aside from the whole island-building bit, of course – in Pokopia, it's the four-player multiplayer and GameShare functionality between the Switch 2 and its predecessor that trailers showed last year. People wanted to play with pals, partners, and you name it… and they wanted a better co-op experience after Animal Crossing's more limited take on multiplayer. Now that Pokopia is finally here, however, folks are sadly discovering that neither co-op nor GameShare is what it seemed cracked up to be in 2025. As one fan reports on Reddit, "PSA: The GameShare is awful and might as well not exist." They explain their thoughts, writing, "The Switch 1 player is only able to wander around and do nothing."

PSA The gameshare is awful and might as well not exist from r/Pokopia

The poster continues, explaining that the person on the first Switch basically can't do much of anything, from changing their appearance to crafting items. "I'm so disgusted. I only got this game to play with my girlfriend, and you can't do anything. 0/10, stay far away if you want this game for co-op. There is nothing here."

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They're not alone in feeling this way, either. "GameShare is SOOOO BADDD," exclaims another player in a separate post. Not only can you not play the story mode together, but you "can't interact with ANY Pokemon, can only play in certain areas, can't craft items, can't open the Pokedex, and can't customize your character," as the disappointed fan outlines. "You CANNOT OPEN CHESTS? It can't even be Pokemon Minecraft, you can't even craft."

GameShare is SOOOO BADDD from r/Pokopia

According to the poster, "98% of the mechanics are unavailable to GameShare players." In GameShare, you can only do a few things, apparently: pick up certain objects, put blocks down, and use the skills the host has unlocked. It's understandably upsetting – heck, I was excited to play alongside friends myself. As another online thread puts it, "GameShare is disappointing." It's a "sour note on an otherwise perfect game."

News of the letdown that is Pokopia co-op, specifically via GameShare, is spreading far and wide. One person amusingly points out that they're "just a glorified pack mule" as the second player – and, yeah, it unfortunately does seem so. Here's hoping Nintendo hears fans' cries and acts on them – I know I'll be waiting.

"Bro am I talentless": Pokemon Pokopia players are already blowing fellow fans' minds with their builds, proving they're just as creative as the Animal Crossing and Minecraft community

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Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. TOPICS Game Freak The Pokemon Company CATEGORIES Nintendo Switch 2 Nintendo Switch Platforms Nintendo Anna KoselkeSocial Links NavigationStaff Writer

After spending years with her head in various fantastical realms' clouds, Anna studied English Literature and then Medieval History at the University of Edinburgh, going on to specialize in narrative design and video game journalism as a writer. She has written for various publications since her postgraduate studies, including Dexerto, Fanbyte, GameSpot, IGN, PCGamesN, and more. When she's not frantically trying to form words into coherent sentences, she's probably daydreaming about becoming a fairy druid and befriending every animal or she's spending a thousand (more) hours traversing the Underdark in Baldur's Gate 3. If you spot her away from her PC, you'll always find Anna with a fantasy book, a handheld video game console of some sort, and a Tamagotchi or two on hand.

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