An upcoming game called Pickmon faces accusations from two fan artists of copying their designs for Mega Ceruledge and Mega Meganium. The game, which mimics elements of Pokémon and other titles, has drawn criticism for its apparent similarities to established franchises. Artists claim the copies are blatant, with one design replicated almost exactly.
Pickmon, described as a game that echoes Pokémon, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and Palworld, has sparked controversy shortly after its reveal. Fans and artists have pointed out resemblances in its creature designs to existing works. Specifically, two independent Pokémon fan artists have accused the developers of using their concepts without permission.
The accusations center on designs for Mega Ceruledge and Mega Meganium. One artist, known as el.psy.fake, shared on Instagram that their Mega Meganium artwork was copied nearly identically. "Pickmon, an upcoming game that’s been accused of ripping off designs from other artists and famous franchises like Pokémon, has also stolen one of my designs," el.psy.fake wrote. "They didn’t even try to change something and make it a bit less obvious."
The Mega Ceruledge similarity is noted as less direct but still noticeable. These claims were first highlighted by Dexerto. Adding to the scrutiny, Pickmon's promotional materials list the developer as both “PocketGame” and “PokeGame,” names that reference Pokémon and Pocket Monsters. The publisher, NETWORKGO, is said to resemble Nintendo, and their previous title, Hainya World, has been criticized for borrowing from MapleStory.
In response to the backlash, the official Pickmon YouTube channel posted a message thanking media coverage for boosting visibility. “A huge thank you to all the gaming media outlets! Thanks to your support, we’ve hit 25 million impressions in under 48 hours. We couldn’t have done it without you!” the channel stated. No official response from the developers addresses the artist accusations directly.
The incident highlights tensions in game development, particularly around fan creations and intellectual property. As of the report's publication on March 13, 2026, the developers have not commented on the specific claims.
