Pickmos: controversies, name changes, and the future

The game project Pickmos, formerly known as Pickmon, has drawn the attention of players worldwide, but not for the right reasons. This survival-crafting game has been accused of plagiarism, with criticism aimed in particular at the popular Pokémon and Palworld franchises. The game’s rename was only the beginning of a string of controversies that led to its temporary removal from Steam.

From Pickmon to Pickmos

In April 2026, developer PocketGame announced that the name of its game would change from Pickmon to Pickmos. The move was meant to better match the game’s brand identity. However, the change did little to ease criticism; in many players’ eyes, the similarities to Pokémon and Palworld remained far too obvious.

Plagiarism allegations

Several players have raised concerns about Pickmos’ design choices. The monsters in the game are said to look too much like existing Pokémon, leading to accusations that PocketGame stole ‘Fakemon’ designs from fan artists. In addition, the main character in the trailer, which bears a striking resemblance to Link from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, has also come under fire.

The developer’s response and the future

After the backlash, Networkgo, the publisher of Pickmos, announced that it would take an active role in the game’s development. It said it takes player feedback seriously and will rewrite the game to deliver a ‘controversy-free’ experience. However, plans for a 2027 release are now under pressure because of the current situation.

Conclusion

The future of Pickmos remains uncertain. Despite the publisher’s promises to take development seriously and improve the project, players still have doubts about its legitimacy and originality. Whether Pickmos will ever return to Steam, and in what form, remains to be seen.