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A PlayStation game, Anime Life Sim, has sparked controversy for its striking resemblance to Animal Crossing: New Horizons (ACNH). The game appears to be a near-identical clone, mirroring not only the visuals but also the core gameplay loop.
While numerous games have drawn inspiration from Animal Crossing, Anime Life Sim stands out for its direct imitation. Developed and published by IndieGames3000, the game's PlayStation Store listing explicitly describes a "charming social simulation" featuring home building, befriending animal neighbors, and engaging in activities like fishing, bug catching, gardening, crafting, and fossil hunting – all key mechanics of ACNH.
The legal landscape surrounding this imitation is complex. According to patent analyst Florian Mueller, game mechanics themselves are generally unpatentable. However, copyright law protects visual elements like art style and character design. Thus, any legal action by Nintendo against Anime Life Sim would likely focus on the visual similarities to ACNH.
Nintendo's history of legal action is well-documented, but whether they will pursue this case remains uncertain. Anime Life Sim is currently slated for a February 2026 release on PlayStation 5, with PS4 compatibility yet to be confirmed.
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