The creature-collecting game Pickmos has been pulled from Steam as its publisher moves to contain a mounting controversy over borrowed designs and apparent art theft.
Publisher Networkgo announced the intervention on April 16, taking control of development from PocketGame and vowing to overhaul the project. "We are revising the game to ensure a controversy-free experience," the company stated through the official Pickmos account on X/Twitter. "It will be re-released once our publisher gives the final approval."
The drama surrounding Pickmos began in early March when players spotted striking similarities between the game and multiple franchises. Fans flagged visual and mechanical parallels to Pokémon, The Legend of Zelda, Overwatch, and Palworld. The game, initially unveiled as Pickmon before the name change, had been scheduled for PC, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch.
Beyond accusations of design lifting, Pickmos faces a more serious charge: alleged art theft. One piece circulating online appears to be concept art for a Mega evolution of Meganium, originally created by X user @ElpsyFake01. Networkgo acknowledged the claim and pledged to contact the artist directly, stating "we are currently gathering some information" and will be "actively reaching out."
The publisher's statement emphasizes a shift in oversight, saying it will now supervise development "from a player's perspective." What that translates to in concrete changes remains unclear. With the Steam page offline and no official timeline for relaunch, the current state of Pickmos is essentially unknown, as is whether its gameplay, art, or both will undergo significant revision.
The situation represents a rare moment where community pressure forced swift publisher action. Most indie projects facing plagiarism allegations either defend themselves or quietly disappear. Networkgo's public intervention suggests the backlash struck a nerve, though whether the remedial effort will prove genuine or cosmetic awaits the next reveal.
Author Emily Chen: "Networkgo's takeover might save Pickmos from legal trouble, but creative rehabilitation is harder than removing a Steam page."
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