Would you believe us if we told you the lead image for this article was a screenshot of Animal Crossing: New Horizons?
We're willing to bet you would, but it's actually not: this is Anime Village Online, an actual game you can wishlist now on the PS Store, with a target release date of 2027.
Here's the pitch from the studio: "Welcome to Anime Village Online, a cozy life simulation game where you can create your dream village, decorate your home, and enjoy a peaceful world — all while playing solo or with friends online."
There's attempting to emulate the Animal Crossing experience, and then there's just being Animal Crossing — albeit an inferior version.
The PS Store wishlist page goes on to mention how you'll "design and expand your own charming house, craft furniture, grow crops, catch fish, and decorate your surroundings". Then, in the outdoors, you can "Wander through beautiful forests, rivers, beaches, and hidden paths. Discover resources, meet NPC villagers, and unlock new items and areas as you play." There'll be solo play, co-op, and voice chat — if the game actually releases.
Animal Crossing clearly has a very successful formula, as New Horizons was one of the Nintendo Switch's best-selling games. However, other attempts at bringing the idea to PS5 — such as Floatopia and Hello Kitty Island Adventure — all at least had their own spin and art style. Anime Village Online is blatantly just Animal Crossing.
Wisnu Sudirman is listed as the publisher, who is also trying to flog Rooted: Survival, an obvious copy of The Last of Us. In an attempt to get away with the rip-off, the wishlist page carries the message: "All referenced game titles, brands, characters, and visual elements are the property of their respective owners. Any similarities are intended purely as homage or satire for entertainment purposes. No copyright infringement is intended."
Do you think it's fair to have these kinds of copycats on the PS Store, or should they be removed? Let us know all of your thoughts in the comments below.
[source store.playstation.com, via nintendolife.com]
Comments 18
I don't know, but ain't most designs from Animal Crossing a tad bit generic?
@CielloArc Not really, no. Animal Crossing has always had a very distinct art direction and up until relatively recently nothing else has come close to matching the gameplay systems it uses throughout the franchise.
While I understand that there are a lot of these games that may end up looking similar to other popular franchises, does that mean I can take the face of any character from any game and use it wherever I want?
If so, I've got some money to make.
Nintendo are going to have a field day, because that isn't just inspired by it is a carbon copy of AC.
@Mintie easiest law suit incoming.
Yeah... The sentence "no copyright infringement intended" tells it all. They know they are in the danger zone making these games. Why release these screenshots though, they are so obviously copied, it's like personally putting a mark on your head.
A satire of AC would actually be funny and dark but this is just low level plagiarism.
Found the developer on LinkedIn; 1 guy. Bet he's delighted with the free press =L
Wisnu Sudirman? That sounds like an Indonesian name and this is the first time i heard his name. But this blatant AC ripoff makes Indonesian devs looks bad though, especially the ones who made games like A Space for the Unbound, Coffee Talk, and Dreadout.
I doubt itll be that hard to make a non inferior version, its a life sim lol. But yea that's just AC in all but name
So that's playstation's strategy, make one game a decade and fill it's game catalogue with cloned slop from other consoles looking like it belongs on late 1990s console
@Noone2025 lmao Sony release two first party games this year and multiple second party games and this game not only on ps lol
@CielloArc Not even close. Animal Crossing has always had a very distinct art style for its characters.
lol Rooted Survival, seems legit 😂😂😂😂😂😂
Nintendo definitely has the right to sue on this one. It’s blatant infringement.
@CielloArc Dude, please. Just because this game is coming to playstation that doesn't mean you have to defend it, especially when it's so obsviously ripping off AC's artstyle.
Some people must like getting sued by Nintendo.
I am curious of the quality of this I wouldn't buy it most likely due to being a rip off but maybe the writing is better or something. I wasn't too big of a fan of Animal Crossing New Horizons because outside of placing furniture everywhere it felt like it had even less content than New Leaf on 3ds and even more boring villagers that all act the same. So I am curious cause Nintendo feels to be heavily pulling punches for content, you wouldn't need much to surpass Animal Crossing New Horizons.
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