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Pickmon Accused Of Being A Pokemon Rip-Off, But It’s Worse Than That: Full Controversy Explained

yelzkizi Pickmon Accused Of Being A Pokemon Rip-Off, But It’s Worse Than That: Full Controversy Explained

What is Pickmon on Steam

Pickmon is listed on Steam as a multiplayer open-world survival crafter. Developed by PocketGame and published by Networkgo, it marks the studio’s first PC title. The gameplay loop involves:

  • Exploring a vast continent filled with ancient civilizations.
  • Capturing and training creatures called Pickmon.
  • Fighting a “shadowy organization” while building industrial bases and factories.
  • Engaging in survival and crafting mechanics reminiscent of Minecraft or Ark: Survival Evolved.

Release Date and Platform

The official release date is currently “To be announced,” though a 2027 Early Access window has been hinted at. While confirmed for PC (Steam), promotional materials have vaguely implied future releases for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5, despite potential legal hurdles.

The Pokémon and Palworld Similarities

The game faces heavy criticism for “copying the homework” of industry giants:

  • Monster Designs: Many Pickmon appear to be “off-brand” Pokémon. Examples include a Pikachu-like mascot with a lightning bolt tail, a dragon resembling Charizard, and creatures that mirror Meganium and Ceruledge with minor cosmetic alterations.
  • Palworld Parallels: Pickmon mimics Palworld’s “Pokémon with guns” concept. The trailer shows creatures utilizing rocket launchers and heavy weaponry to help players build industrial empires.
  • Steam Description: Pickmon’s store page text is nearly identical to Palworld’s, using the same “Fight, farm, build…” phrasing with only minor word swaps.
yelzkizi Pickmon Accused Of Being A Pokemon Rip-Off, But It’s Worse Than That: Full Controversy Explained

The Zelda: Breath of the Wild Connection

Pickmon overtly borrows aesthetics and mechanics from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (BOTW):

  • Visuals & Music: The debut trailer opens with a piano melody strikingly similar to BOTW’s score.
  • Mechanics: The protagonist—a blonde, elf-eared character in a blue tunic—is shown leaping off a cliff and using a paraglider, mirroring Link’s iconic movement.
  • World Design: The trailer features towers emitting beams of light, reminiscent of Zelda’s Sheikah Towers.

Plagiarism and Fan Art Allegations

A major facet of the controversy involves claims that PocketGame stole fan-made artwork.

  • Mega Meganium: Artist Elpsy identified a creature in Pickmon’s key art that is an almost exact copy of her original “Mega Meganium” concept, down to the wings, antennae, and pose.
  • Mega Ceruledge: Artist Jayjaymons pointed out a spectral, four-legged creature in the trailer that mirrors his fan design for a “Mega Ceruledge.”
  • Systemic Theft: The community has flagged multiple designs that appear to be lifted from fakemon communities on Instagram, DeviantArt, and Reddit.

Studio Credibility and Legal Risks

The legitimacy of the developer, PocketGame, has been questioned:

Potential Lawsuits: Given Nintendo’s history of suing Palworld over patents and its general protectiveness of IP, legal experts suggest Pickmon is at high risk for trademark and copyright litigation.dubious but also a recipe for PR disaster.

Branding: The name “PocketGame” is suspiciously similar to Palworld’s “Pocketpair.”

Sloppiness: The trailer featured a typo where the studio’s name morphed into “PokeGame” and claimed to be a “Summer Game Fest 2026” trailer before the event had even occurred.

Anonymity: There is virtually no public record of the developers, leading some to wonder if the project is a publicity stunt or a scam.

yelzkizi Pickmon Accused Of Being A Pokemon Rip-Off, But It’s Worse Than That: Full Controversy Explained

Frequently Asked Question (FAQs)

  1. What type of game is Pickmon?
    Pickmon is a monster-collecting action-adventure game that incorporates survival and crafting mechanics. Players explore an open world to capture creatures, fight enemies, farm resources, and build bases. It essentially blends the creature-collection formula of Pokémon with sandbox survival elements like building and gun combat.
  2. Who is developing Pickmon and when will it be released?
    The game is developed by PocketGame and published by Networkgo, marking the studio’s first PC title. There is no confirmed launch date, though the developers have suggested an Early Access release in 2027. While a debut trailer was released in March 2026 and a Steam page exists, there is currently no playable version.
  3. Why are people saying Pickmon is a Pokémon rip-off?
    Pickmon borrows heavily from Pokémon’s core concepts and aesthetics. Beyond the similar name, the trailer features a character with a Pikachu-like companion and several other creatures that nearly identical to official Pokémon species. The primary gameplay loop of collecting and battling monsters is directly modeled after the Nintendo franchise.
  4. Is Pickmon also copying the game Palworld?
    Yes. Pickmon appears to imitate Palworld’s specific “Pokémon with guns” formula. Its Steam description is nearly identical to Palworld’s, and it features similar mechanics like creature labor, base building, and firearm usage. Even the developer’s name, PocketGame, seems to be a riff on Palworld’s creator, Pocketpair.
  5. Did Pickmon really plagiarize content from other sources (like descriptions or art)?
    Evidence suggests significant plagiarism. The Steam store description is a near-verbatim copy of Palworld’s. More critically, several fan artists have provided side-by-side comparisons alleging that Pickmon lifted their original “fakemon” designs—such as a fan-created “Mega Meganium”—and used them without permission or credit.
  6. What are the stolen fan art allegations about Pickmon?
    Multiple artists, including Elpsy and Jayjaymons, claim Pickmon stole their original concepts. Elpsy’s “Mega Meganium” and Jayjaymons’ “Mega Ceruledge” designs appear in Pickmon’s promotional materials with only minor adjustments. The lack of credit or contact has caused an ethical uproar in the fan community.
  7. Could Nintendo or The Pokémon Company sue Pickmon?
    It is highly likely. Given Nintendo’s history of aggressive IP protection—including a 2024 patent infringement lawsuit against Palworld—legal action is widely expected. Pickmon’s use of Pokémon and Zelda-like elements provides strong grounds for a cease-and-desist or a full lawsuit to block the game’s release.
  8. Is Pickmon a genuine game or could it be a scam/publicity stunt?
    There is significant skepticism regarding its legitimacy. The developer is an unknown entity with no track record, and the trailer’s branding as a “Summer Game Fest” showcase appears misleading. Some suspect the footage may be a proof-of-concept using AI or stock assets designed to attract investors or court controversy rather than a fully developed product.
  9. How have fans reacted to Pickmon?
    Reception has been overwhelmingly negative. Both the Pokémon and Palworld communities have united in disapproval, mocking the game as “Pokémon on discount” or a “bootleg of a bootleg.” The controversy has turned the project into a laughingstock, with many calling for legal intervention due to the perceived lack of originality and ethics.
  10. What does the Pickmon controversy mean for other Pokémon-like games?
    It serves as a warning for developers to differentiate their work and avoid blatant plagiarism. The backlash may force future monster-collecting games to be more innovative to avoid the “Pickmon” label. While Nintendo may become more watchful, creative titles in the genre may benefit by contrast, highlighting the difference between inspired innovation and outright theft.
yelzkizi Pickmon Accused Of Being A Pokemon Rip-Off, But It’s Worse Than That: Full Controversy Explained

Conclusion

The Pickmon controversy is a multifaceted saga of game development gone wrong – a rare case where an upcoming title managed to infuriate and unite fans of multiple major franchises before even getting off the ground. What began as an eye-catching trailer quickly turned into a lesson in the importance of originality (and the perils of plagiarism). Pickmon earned infamy by seemingly attempting to ride on the coattails of Pokémon, Palworld, and even Zelda, rather than carving out its own identity. In doing so, it crossed virtually every line of intellectual property and fan goodwill: copying not just ideas and aesthetics, but even allegedly stealing fan-created artwork.

The backlash from both the community and the gaming press was swift and merciless – a clear message that gamers won’t support a product that appears to shamelessly appropriate others’ work. From being dubbed “a bootleg of a bootleg” to calls for Nintendo’s legal team to step in, Pickmon has become a cautionary tale long before its release. It highlights that while the monster-collector genre is beloved and fans are hungry for new experiences, there is a strong expectation of good faith and creativity. Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but in game development there’s a fine line between inspiration and infringement. Pickmon sprinted across that line, and the result has been public relations disaster.

Moving forward, it remains uncertain whether Pickmon will ever see a full release or if it will quietly disappear amid the controversy. The developers have maintained silence in the face of the allegations, which does little to rebuild trust. Meanwhile, the episode has already influenced discourse around Pokémon-like games – likely prompting other devs to ensure their projects bring unique value rather than copying what’s come before. If there’s a silver lining, it’s that this controversy has sparked conversations about creative ethics in game design and the protection of fan creations.

In the end, Pickmon’s story serves as a reminder that fans ultimately gravitate toward games that respect their predecessors while innovating, not those that attempt to cash in on existing ideas without contribution. Whether Pickmon was born of malice, desperation, or misunderstanding, it has, ironically, done the exact opposite of its apparent intent – instead of piggybacking to success, it’s become a rallying point for fans defending originality. The full tale of Pickmon – from its brazen trailer to the fallout and potential legal battles – will likely be cited in gaming circles for years to come. For now, it stands as a fascinating (if infamous) case study in game development: how not to build a monster-catching game.

yelzkizi Pickmon Accused Of Being A Pokemon Rip-Off, But It’s Worse Than That: Full Controversy Explained

Sources and citation

  1. GameSpot – Claire Lewis (March 10, 2026): “Pickmon Accused Of Being A Pokemon Rip-Off, But It’s Worse Than That.”
  2. Kotaku – Kenneth Shepard (March 9, 2026): “Somehow, Someone’s Made A Bigger Pokémon Ripoff Than Palworld.”
  3. GamesRadar – Anna Koselke (March 10, 2026): “Pokemon fan artist alleges new Palworld clone Pickmon ‘stole one of my designs,’ saying ‘they didn’t even try to change something and make it a bit less obvious’.”
  4. Creative Bloq – Joe Foley (March 11, 2026): “The Pickmon controversy explained – is the game stealing art from Pokémon fans?”
  5. Wccftech – David Carcasole (March 9, 2026): “‘Bootleg of a Bootleg’: A New Pokémon Lookalike, Pickmon, Seems to be Ripping Off Both Palworld and Pokémon.”
  6. Nintendo Life – Ollie Reynolds (March 10, 2026): “New Survival Game ‘Pickmon’ Is Just Asking To Be Sued Into Oblivion.”
  7. Galaxus – Debora Pape (March 11, 2026): “‘Pickmon’ steals even more brazenly from ‘Pokémon’ than ‘Palworld’.”
  8. Kotaku – Kenneth Shepard (September 18, 2024): “Nintendo And The Pokémon Company Are Suing Palworld Developer [Update].”
  9. Reddit / r/pokemon – u/El-psy-congroo-01 (March 2026): “Pickmon stole one of my designs.”

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