Hytale developer Hypixel Studios is taking legal action against a copycat game that popped up on the Nintendo eShop last week.
Hytale, the sandbox RPG, is taking action against Hytale: Sandbox RPG, a recently released Switch game with striking similarities that go far beyond just its name, including a suspiciously similar art style and promotional images.
Asked if he was aware of the possibly copyright-infringing game, Hypixel Studios founder Simon Collins-Laflamme confirmed he had, writing on X/Twitter: “Yeah, it’s being handled by the legal team” (thanks, Automaton).
The clone seems to have been developed by the same team behind Coin Pit, a “scam knock-off of Clover Pit,” as one player accurately surmised.
“This is just the tip of the iceberg on the Switch eShop,” wrote another Hytale fan on Reddit. “It’s littered with knock-off games still despite Nintendo saying they are cracking down on them.” Another admitted they were nearly misled into buying it, writing: “Recently bought a Switch 2 and saw this in the eShop. My first thought was, ‘Why was Hytale released on Switch before Steam?’ Insane how Nintendo does zero vetting for products on their platform.”
Unfortunately, Hytale is not the only victim of these prolific copycats. Many hit games spawn low-effort clones as unscrupulous developers hope to fool players into believing their copycat game is the real deal. For instance, this time last year, The Pokémon Company was awarded “substantial” damages for Chinese copycat mobile game, Pocket Monster: Remake. The game featured seemingly unaltered Pikachu artwork from the Pokémon Yellow box as the app icon, while other branding for the game featured what appeared to be Ash Ketchum, Pikachu, Tepig, and Oshawott, again unaltered.
The real Hytale is currently available via early access on PC and can only be purchased on its official website. It blends the freedom of a sandbox with the momentum of an RPG, letting players explore a procedurally generated world full of dungeons, secrets, and a variety of creatures, then shape it block by block. Our early access Hytale review returned a 7/10. “Hytale’s Early Access launch already offers an enjoyable take on Minecraft with some thoughtful additions and lots of room to grow,” we wrote.
Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world’s biggest gaming sites and publications. She’s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.
