Pickmon is a newly announced multiplayer open-world survival crafter developed by PocketGame and published by NETWORKGO, and it has already set the internet on fire for all the wrong reasons. From creature designs that draw obvious comparisons to Pokémon and Palworld to a protagonist that looks remarkably like Link from Breath of the Wild, Pickmon is generating attention before it has even launched. Here is everything confirmed so far.
Pickmon 2026 Overview
| Detail | Info |
| Game | Pickmon |
| Developer | PocketGame |
| Publisher | NETWORKGO |
| Platform | PC (Steam, Windows only) |
| Release Date | To Be Announced |
| Genre | Multiplayer Open-World Survival Crafter |
| Steam Tags | Action, Adventure, Indie, RPG |
What Is Pickmon?
Pickmon is a creature-taming survival game set across a world of lost civilisations where players fight, farm, and build industrial empires alongside creatures called Pickmon. The developer describes it as a multiplayer open-world survival crafter, and the gameplay loop involves capturing creatures using specialised cards, building bases, establishing farms, and automating production through factories.
The game supports both online and LAN co-op multiplayer, allowing players to team up with friends to take on a shadowy organisation at the centre of the story.
Release Date: When Does Pickmon Launch?
Pickmon does not have a confirmed release date. The Steam page, which went live on March 9, 2026, lists the release window as To Be Announced. No early access date or launch year has been officially confirmed by the developer or publisher.
Some outlets reported a 2027 early access window, however this does not appear on the official Steam listing and should be treated as unconfirmed until PocketGame or NETWORKGO makes a direct announcement.
What Platform Will Pickmon Be On?
Pickmon is confirmed for PC via Steam on Windows only. The Steam page specifies a 64-bit Windows 10 or later requirement, and no other platforms have been officially announced. Reports of a Nintendo Switch version circulated after the trailer dropped, however these appear to stem from fan speculation rather than any official confirmation from the developer or publisher. Steam Deck compatibility has not been confirmed either.
PC System Requirements
The minimum system requirements are notably demanding for an indie title, and the game requires an SSD and a broadband internet connection regardless of whether you play solo or with others:
| Requirement | Minimum Specs | Recommended Specs |
| OS | Windows 10 or later (64-bit) | Windows 10 or later (64-bit) |
| Processor | i5-3570K 3.4 GHz 4 Core | i9-9900K 3.6 GHz 8 Core |
| RAM | 16 GB | 32 GB |
| Graphics | GeForce GTX 1050 (2GB) | GeForce RTX 2070 |
| DirectX | Version 11 | Version 11 |
| Network | Broadband Internet | Broadband Internet |
| Storage | 40 GB (SSD required) | 40 GB (SSD required) |
The Summer Game Fest Trailer Situation
The debut trailer for Pickmon carries a self-applied “Summer Game Fest 2026” label. However, Summer Game Fest is still months away at the time of writing, and host Geoff Keighley had not confirmed any involvement with Pickmon at the time the trailer surfaced. Kotaku reached out to Summer Game Fest for comment, but no response had been received by the time of publication. The SGF branding on the trailer should therefore be treated as unverified until officially confirmed.
The main announcement trailer had accumulated approximately 2,000 to 3,000 views as of March 10, 2026, which is notably low for a game generating widespread media coverage. The Steam page, which launched on March 9, does not display public wishlist or follower counts, which is common for new titles with low engagement.
Pickmon Gameplay: What Do You Actually Do?
According to the official Steam page from PocketGame and NETWORKGO, Pickmon includes the following confirmed features:
| Feature | Details |
| Creature Capture | Use specialised cards to tame Pickmon as allies |
| Story Mode | Uncover lost history and stop a shadowy organisation’s plot |
| Exploration | Traverse grasslands, jungles, frozen tundras, volcanic peaks, deep valleys, and deserts |
| Base Building | Design and construct a home for you and your Pickmon team |
| Farming | Establish farms to manage your food supply and survival |
| Industrial Automation | Build factories to automate gear and weapon production |
| Multiplayer | Online co-op and LAN co-op with friends |
| Single-Player | Confirmed solo mode |
One notable difference from Pokémon is how creatures are captured. Rather than using Poké Balls, players capture Pickmon using cards.
The Steam page also confirms the following additional features:
- Full controller support, including Xbox, DualShock, and DualSense controllers via USB
- Steam Achievements and Steam Cloud saves
- Seven accessibility features covering gameplay, visual, and audio options
- Support for 15 languages including English, French, Italian, German, and Spanish
The developer is also actively seeking streamers and content creators to reach out ahead of the public launch to participate in early access testing and coverage, a point raised in Steam community posts, which is an unusual step for a game with no confirmed release window.
The Pokémon and Palworld Comparisons: How Similar Is It?
The comparisons between Pickmon and existing franchises are hard to miss, and the gaming community noticed immediately after the trailer dropped.
Here is a breakdown of the similarities that players and outlets have flagged:
- The protagonist has a visual style that draws direct comparisons to Link from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, including similar clothing and a creature companion sitting on his shoulder that resembles Pikachu.
- Creature designs in both the trailer and key art appear visually similar to Pokémon including Ceruledge, Charizard, Meganium, Lucario, and Cobalion.
- Firearms-wielding creatures echo Palworld’s most controversial design choice, where Pals carry and use guns in combat.
- Additional comparisons raised by players include a character bearing a resemblance to Roadhog from Overwatch and a creature similar to the Story of Seasons cow.
- Community members have also pointed out visual similarities to the Aetheryte structures from Final Fantasy XIV.
Where Does This Leave Nintendo and Pocketpair?
Nintendo and The Pokémon Company filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Pocketpair over Palworld in 2024, with the case still ongoing. Nintendo notably rewrote one of the patents involved during the proceedings, and Palworld’s version 1.0 release is planned for 2026. That legal battle has not yet concluded.
Pickmon’s arrival introduces a new situation entirely, with several observers suggesting the designs are even more overt than anything in Palworld. However, as of March 2026, neither Nintendo, The Pokémon Company, nor Pocketpair has announced any legal action against Pickmon or its developers. Given how recently the trailer emerged, responses from any of those parties are yet to come.
It is worth noting that PocketGame has no prior titles on Steam, making Pickmon their debut release on the platform. NETWORKGO is a Chinese studio whose only prior title is Hainya World, an early access survival game that launched on August 31, 2023.
Is Pickmon Legitimate? Community Concerns
Reaction to Pickmon has been largely sceptical, and the concerns go beyond just the derivative designs. Several factors have raised questions about the project’s credibility:
- The Steam page launched on March 9, 2026 with notably low trailer views of around 2,000 to 3,000 for a game generating significant media attention, which some have flagged as suspicious.
- The “Summer Game Fest 2026” branding on the trailer appears self-applied and unverified, given the event is still months away and no official confirmation exists from Geoff Keighley or Summer Game Fest.
- The developer is requesting creator and streamer outreach before the game enters public access, despite having no confirmed release date.
- PocketGame is a debut studio with no prior games on record.
- Community commentary has ranged from outright accusations of the project being a scam designed to attract preorders or media attention before disappearing, to comparisons with AI-generated asset packages reassembled into a trailer.
On the design side, one community member described it as what happens when someone asks an AI Pokémon generator to recreate actual Pokémon from memory, while others noted it looks like a direct case study for future copyright law courses.
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