Featured Image Credit: The Pokémon Company
Pokémon is one of the most successful video game franchises on the planet so it’s not a surprise to see so many game developers try to get a piece of the pie.
Games like Palworld are a good example but as we all know, both Nintendo and The Pokémon Company are feverishly protective of its IPs.
In order to avoid legal ramifications, developers have to be smart and create legally distinct games, which is exactly what’s coming to PC soon.
Announced earlier today comes what many are already trying to call the “Pokémon killer,” Olympus Rangers.
It’s a creature battle simulator that may lack the open-world and story Pokémon games possess, but doesn’t skimp on the action.
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“Welcome to the ultimate battle simulator where you can create, manage and face dozens of opponents in multiple battle modes,” reads the description on Steam.
“Can you become the champion? Throw away your fainted teammates? How about becoming the world's best in online play? Take on the Olympus! Can you become the very best?”
Despite that last line being very tongue-and-cheek, developer Mechano has seemingly done a good job of keeping it as different to Pokémon as can be, though there are still some glaring similarities.
The battle area these creatures fight on is literally shaped and designed to look like a Pokéball and some of the roster will be hard to argue as bespoke character creations.
At the time of writing the game doesn’t have a release date, though it might not release at all…
Like what happened with Palworld, this game is bound to come under fire from the companies behind Pokémon.
Some of the designs used are literally just normal Pokémon with bare minimum changes applied, and with areas like the arena looking like it's been ripped straight out of Pokémon Stadium, it’s only a matter of time before a cease and desist gets sent across.
Perhaps Olympus Rangers will be able to make a case for itself like Palworld did, but there’s bound to be a legal battle in the future.
The Pokémon Company’s next game is Pokémon Winds & Waves, the most ambitious game in the franchise so far.
Ditching the Nintendo Switch in favour of the Nintendo Switch 2, fans are in for the most gorgeous game in the series yet, with an open-world filled to the brim with Pokémon new and old.
Leaks have been plentiful with the game’s titles surfacing well-ahead of the reveal trailer, and the gimmick this time around is apparently deep-sea exploration and island hopping.
While new rivals like Olympus Rangers will try to cash-in on the Pokémon franchise's success, it’s becoming increasingly clear that no new IP will ever surpass, especially now that it’s taking advantage of the latest hardware.
READ MORE: Pokémon Winds and Waves Map Leaks Online, Gen 10 Is Huge
