Pickmon: A Pokémon, Palworld, and Zelda Mashup Draws Controversy

A new open-world survival crafter, Pickmon, developed by PocketGame and published by NETWORKGO, is generating significant buzz – and controversy – for its striking similarities to established franchises like Pokémon, Palworld, and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. The game, recently revealed on Steam, allows players to capture creatures called ‘Pickmon’ using cards and team up with them to fight, gather resources, farm, and build sprawling industrial empires.

Gameplay and Inspiration

Pickmon blends monster-collecting mechanics reminiscent of Pokémon with the survival and crafting elements popularized by Palworld. Players utilize a card-based system to tame creatures, a twist that, while avoiding direct copyright issues with Pokémon’s monster-summoning patents, has still drawn scrutiny. The game’s Steam page describes a vast, uncharted continent filled with ancient civilizations and mysterious creatures.

Visual Similarities and Concerns

Beyond the gameplay mechanics, Pickmon has faced criticism for its visual design. The protagonist bears a strong resemblance to Link from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Artists have alleged that character designs within Pickmon are directly copied from their fan-made Pokémon creations, raising concerns about intellectual property rights and the power imbalance between individual artists and a game studio [Gameranx].

Legal Landscape and Nintendo’s Scrutiny

Nintendo is known for aggressively protecting its intellectual property. The company is currently involved in a legal battle with Pocketpair, the developer of Palworld, over alleged copyright infringement [Polygon]. While Nintendo doesn’t own the rights to card-based creature capture (like Yu-Gi-Oh), the overall combination of elements in Pickmon has raised eyebrows. Interestingly, the game’s reveal trailer also features Roadhog from Blizzard Entertainment’s Overwatch, potentially opening another avenue for legal challenges.

NETWORKGO’s Previous Work

Pickmon is published by NETWORKGO, which previously released the fantasy title Hainya World [Kotaku]. PocketGame is the developer, and this is their first game listed on Steam.

Looking Ahead

The release of Pickmon comes at a time when Nintendo is already preoccupied with legal battles. Whether Nintendo will pursue legal action against PocketGame and NETWORKGO remains to be seen. The game’s success will likely depend on how it differentiates itself from its inspirations and addresses the concerns raised about its visual and gameplay similarities to existing franchises.