Final month, a Steam itemizing emerged for Pickmon, an upcoming creature-collecting survival recreation that gained instant consideration by the Olympian ballsiness of its visible knockoffery. Pickmon’s trailers and advertising and marketing imagery featured designs with near-identical similarity to characters, creatures, and objects from Pokémon, Ultimate Fantasy, Zelda, Overwatch, and even Palworld—which, infamously, had sparked its personal controversy by inviting comparable comparisons.
Pickmon, nevertheless, 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 dwell Pickmos.
Sport Renaming Announcement:The Evolution of PickmosDear Gamers,For the reason that starting of improvement,now we have been devoted to buildinga distinctive and profound ecological world.To raised align with our model identification and lore,our title is formally altering:… pic.twitter.com/3sgnTkvbTdApril 10, 2026
“For the reason that starting of improvement, now we have been devoted to constructing a novel and profound ecological world,” mentioned NetworkGo, writer of the sport previously referred to as Pickmon. “To raised align with our model identification and lore, our title is formally altering: Pickmon → Pickmos.”
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In line with NetworkGo, the creatures within the recreation will nonetheless be referred to as 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 would not specify whether or not the choice was additionally motivated by the chance that Nintendo’s trigger-happy authorized group might 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 standards for claiming copyright infringement on fictional characters are fraught sufficient that even Nintendo can 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 regulation permits trademark house owners to sue when an alleged infringer’s branding creates a chance of confusion with the present trademark. I am not an IP lawyer, however when Pickmon not solely gave the impression of Pokémon but additionally prominently featured Temu-tier Charizard and Pikachu knockoffs in its advertising and marketing, it would not seem to be Nintendo would battle to make that argument.
The title change would not appear to be incomes Pickmos a lot good will. When confronted by an X consumer who requested if Pickmos’ publishers “assume we’re silly” whereas posting photos evaluating its designs to present characters, NetworkGo mentioned it “will focus on this with our artwork director instantly.”
