“You think we’re stupid?” - Players react to Pokémon and Palworld lookalike Pickmon being renamed to “better align with our brand identity and lore”

Pickmon, a new creature-collecting action game that launched on Steam last month, has been renamed to Pickmos following widespread criticism from gaming communities. The game faced backlash for featuring creature designs and mechanics heavily inspired by established franchises, particularly Pokémon and Palworld, with players noting striking similarities between its roster and iconic creatures like Pikachu, Charizard, and Lucario. The game’s trailer also drew comparisons to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, featuring a protagonist resembling Link performing similar gliding mechanics.

In response to the negative reception, developer PocketGame announced a name change from “Pickmon” to “Pickmos”—a single letter substitution. The studio attributed the rebranding to better align with the game’s “brand identity and lore,” explaining that “mos” represents “a complete ecosystem” and “a grand cosmos.” A company statement claimed the new name “carries a more powerful presence, acting as a better vessel for the fantasy adventure” they’re building.

The gaming community has responded skeptically to the stated reasoning, widely viewing the minimal name change as an attempt to sidestep potential legal action from Nintendo and Palworld’s developer rather than genuine rebranding. The one-letter change has become a subject of mockery in gaming media, perceived as an insufficient response to accusations of being a clone. The incident highlights ongoing industry discussions about intellectual property, game design originality, and the boundaries between inspiration and imitation.

“You think we’re stupid?” - Players react to Pokémon and Palworld lookalike Pickmon being renamed to “better align with our brand identity and lore”

Sources