The developer said that the "designs are handled by a professional team that manages all trademark filings."
PocketGame has officially renamed its upcoming creature battler Pickmon to Pickmos, confirming the change on 14 April as scrutiny around its designs continues to circulate. The rebrand comes as ongoing comparisons to Pokémon, Palworld, and other franchises remain a talking point across social platforms.
Pickmos
Release date: To be announced
Platform: PC via Steam
Developer: PocketGame
Why did Pickmon change its name to Pickmos?
Developer PocketGame announced on 14 April that it will rename its game from Pickmon to Pickmos, stating that the change is meant to reflect its broader creative direction.
“Since the beginning of development, we have been dedicated to building a unique and profound ecological world,” the studio said in a statement shared on social media. “To better align with our brand identity and lore, our title is officially changing: Pickmon → Pickmos.”
The team explained that the new suffix carries thematic weight, adding that “-mos” represents a complete ecosystem and a grand cosmos, positioning the game as a larger-scale fantasy adventure. While the title has changed, the creatures themselves will still be referred to as Pickmon within the game’s world.
The announcement follows the game’s initial reveal last month, which quickly drew comparisons to established franchises in the genre.
Pickmos gameplay and design controversy explained
When the game was unveiled, players were quick to highlight similarities between its creature roster and well-known Pokémon such as Pikachu, Charizard, and Lucario. The trailer also featured a protagonist whose design and gliding sequence echoed elements reminiscent of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and even Overwatch.
The reaction across social platforms was largely negative, with some users calling for legal action and questioning the originality of the project.
Despite the rebrand, newly-shared concept art suggests that core designs remain unchanged. Among the examples circulating is a creature closely resembling a fan-made “Mega Meganium” concept, which has sparked further debate about the use of unofficial designs without attribution.
How has the developer responded to plagiarism concerns?
PocketGame has addressed some of the criticism directly through its official social media channels, issuing a standard response regarding intellectual property concerns.
In one reply to an X user who said, “Delete the game and never exist again. You stolen many artist’s design,” the studio asked to provide proof of trademark ownership for the designs in question, stating that its team has reviewed the USPTO database and found no registered claims tied to the referenced creations.
The developer added that its designs are handled by a professional team responsible for trademark filings, and that legal counsel would coordinate with the art director if any valid concerns were raised. It also noted that community feedback has been passed on internally for further review.
Community reaction remains negative despite rebrand
The name change has done little to shift sentiment among players. “Palworld at least pretended to not copy designs by changing most of them enough. You guys don't even bother to hide Charizard, fan made Meganium (stolen design from fans, SHAME on you), Pikachu, Lucario, Link or Grizzbolt. Just to mention the ones in THAT image,” X user @Len_Irvine said.
“This game would be good if it uses more original characters that distinguishes from what it’s inspired by. You can do better than that,” another X user named @LuckyTabbyStuff said.
PocketGame has acknowledged the ongoing backlash, reiterating that it has shared community feedback with its art director as development continues. At present, no further changes to the game’s design, gameplay systems, or release plans have been announced alongside the rebrand.
