Final month, a Steam itemizing emerged for Pickmon, an upcoming creature-collecting survival recreation that gained quick consideration by way of the Olympian ballsiness of its visible knockoffery. Pickmon’s trailers and advertising imagery featured designs with near-identical similarity to characters, creatures, and objects from Pokémon, Closing Fantasy, Zelda, Overwatch, and even Palworld—which, infamously, had sparked its personal controversy by inviting comparable comparisons.
Pickmon, nonetheless, was a reputation not lengthy for this world, as a result of its official X account introduced final week that the sport has undergone a daring rebranding—by which I imply a single letter in its title has modified. Pickmon is lifeless. Lengthy reside Pickmos.
Sport Renaming Announcement:The Evolution of PickmosDear Gamers,For the reason that starting of growth,we now have been devoted to buildinga distinctive and profound ecological world.To higher align with our model id and lore,our title is formally altering:… pic.twitter.com/3sgnTkvbTdApril 10, 2026
“For the reason that starting of growth, we now have been devoted to constructing a novel and profound ecological world,” stated NetworkGo, writer of the sport previously often called Pickmon. “To higher align with our model id and lore, our title is formally altering: Pickmon → Pickmos.”
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Based on NetworkGo, the creatures within the recreation will nonetheless be often called Pickmon, however the title Pickmos higher conveys “an entire Ecosystem, a grand Cosmos,” and acts as “a greater vessel for the fantasy journey we’re constructing for you.”
NetworkGo does not specify whether or not the choice was additionally motivated by the chance that Nintendo’s trigger-happy authorized staff may come knocking. Its ongoing patent lawsuit towards Palworld developer Pocketpair signifies a willingness to make use of no matter ammunition it may well towards its perceived imitators.
The factors for claiming copyright infringement on fictional characters are fraught sufficient that even Nintendo could be hard-pressed to pursue authorized motion over the visible resemblance between Pickmos’ creatures and Pokémon designs themselves. Model confusion is a distinct story. Within the US, for instance, trademark legislation permits trademark house owners to sue when an alleged infringer’s branding creates a chance of confusion with the prevailing trademark. I am not an IP lawyer, however when Pickmon not solely appeared like Pokémon but in addition prominently featured Temu-tier Charizard and Pikachu knockoffs in its advertising, it does not look like Nintendo would wrestle to make that argument.
The title change does not appear to be incomes Pickmos a lot good will. When confronted by an X person who requested if Pickmos’ publishers “assume we’re silly” whereas posting photos evaluating its designs to current characters, NetworkGo stated it “will talk about this with our artwork director instantly.”
