Pickmon: A Bold Mashup or Copyright Infringement?

The gaming world is buzzing about Pickmon, a newly revealed multiplayer open-world survival crafter that draws striking parallels to Nintendo’s Pokémon and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. The game, developed by PocketGame and published by NETWORKGO, has sparked debate about the line between inspiration and outright copying, especially as Nintendo is currently engaged in a legal battle over copyright infringement with Palworld’s developer.

What is Pickmon?

Pickmon casts players into a vast, uncharted continent populated by “Pickmon”—creatures players can team up with to fight enemies, gather resources, farm, and build “industrial empires,” according to its Steam page. The game incorporates elements of survival crafting, reminiscent of Palworld, but distinguishes itself with a card-based taming mechanic for the creatures.

Drawing Parallels to Nintendo IPs

The initial trailer for Pickmon immediately drew comparisons to established Nintendo franchises. A character resembling Link from Breath of the Wild is shown leaping from a cliffside mirroring the Great Plateau, accompanied by a creature strikingly similar to Pikachu. The game’s aesthetic and mechanics heavily borrow from both Pokémon and Zelda, leading many to question the originality of the title. As IGN noted, the game “doesn’t hide its obvious influences.”

Legal Implications and Nintendo’s Stance

Nintendo is known for aggressively protecting its intellectual property. The company is currently involved in a lawsuit against Pocketpair, the studio behind Palworld, alleging copyright infringement related to monster-summoning mechanics. Polygon highlights that Nintendo’s legal team may be preoccupied with this ongoing case, potentially offering Pickmon a window of opportunity. However, the article also points out that Blizzard Entertainment could potentially claim copyright on Roadhog from Overwatch, who also appears in Pickmon’s trailer.

Will Nintendo Take Action?

The question remains whether Nintendo will pursue legal action against PocketGame and NETWORKGO. Given Nintendo’s history, it’s a distinct possibility. The timing of Pickmon’s release, coinciding with Nintendo’s legal battles, may be a calculated risk by the developers. The game is ambitiously “planned for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation” according to the trailer, which could further complicate matters if it reaches those platforms.

Key Takeaways

• Pickmon is a new multiplayer open-world survival game with strong similarities to Pokémon, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and Palworld.
• The game features a card-based creature taming system.
• Nintendo is currently engaged in a legal dispute over copyright infringement with the developers of Palworld.
• The extent to which Nintendo will pursue legal action against Pickmon remains to be seen.