Pokémon-Like Game Pickmon Changes Name Amid Backlash

"He copied my whole flow. Word for word, bar for bar."

The trailer for Pickmon was a pretty odd experience for anyone who watched it. The game had an uncanny similarity to Pokémon, Palworld, and even Overwatch. The creatures looked awfully similar to both Pokémon and Palworld’s creatures, and the mechanics looked straight out of Palworld. 

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Now, Nintendo has never held its leash when it comes to suing someone for “copying.” Palworld is a great example, but even then, it had its own uniqueness; the characters looked more like inspired designs than bad copies, as seen in Pickmon

So the trailer quickly became a joke among gamers, and people were more curious as to when the game would be taken down, instead of waiting for its release. 

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Amid the backlash, Pickmon developer PocketGames — unrelated to PocketPair, the studio behind Palworld — announced that the game will be renamed Pickmos.

From Pickmon To Pickmos

According to PocketGame, the new name, Pickmos, better reflects the game’s identity and worldbuilding. The developer explained that “mos” is meant to evoke a “grand cosmos” and represent a complete ecosystem, giving the project a stronger and more distinct presence.

It is a clear attempt to separate the game from comparisons to Pokémon, which have been hard to ignore since its reveal. The developers also emphasized that the creatures themselves will still collectively be referred to as “Pickmon,” so the original concept is not being completely scrapped.

The Name Change Doesn’t Solve The Problem

Despite the rebrand, the reaction has not exactly turned positive. Many players remain skeptical, arguing that the issue goes beyond just the name. Critics have pointed out similarities in character designs, with some even sharing side-by-side comparisons online.

A few examples mentioned by fans include designs that resemble well-known characters from other games, such as a hero similar to Link from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and even a character that reminds players of Roadhog from Overwatch. These comparisons have fueled claims that the game lacks originality.

PocketGame has responded directly to some of these accusations. In replies shared through the game’s official account, the team stated that design similarities do not necessarily count as infringement. They noted that elements like colors cannot be patented and that a design would need to be nearly identical in outline to cross that line.

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Image of Burair Noor
Burair Noor
Burair covers all things racing at Operation Sports Gaming. Whether it’s tearing up the track in F1, drifting in Forza, or testing the limits in sims, Burair loves diving into the thrill of motorsport games and sharing that passion with fellow fans.