Hypixel Studios Takes Legal Action Against Hytale Copycat on Nintendo eShop

Hytale developer Hypixel Studios has officially confirmed they are pursuing legal action against a copycat game that recently launched on the Nintendo eShop. The suspicious title, also called Hytale: Sandbox RPG, bears striking similarities to the original sandbox RPG beyond just its name, featuring an art style and promotional imagery that appear designed to mislead players. When asked about the potentially infringing release, Hypixel Studios founder Simon Collins-Laflamme confirmed his awareness on X/Twitter, stating simply, "Yeah, it's being handled by the legal team."

The clone appears to be the work of the same developers behind Coin Pit, a title previously described by players as a "scam knock-off" of Clover Pit. This incident has sparked outrage among the community regarding the state of Nintendo's digital marketplace. Hytale fans have taken to social media and Reddit to highlight the prevalence of these low-effort clones:

  • One fan noted, "This is just the tip of the iceberg on the Switch eShop," adding that the store remains littered with knock-off games despite Nintendo's claims of cracking down on them.
  • Another player admitted they were nearly tricked into a purchase, writing, "Recently bought a Switch 2 and saw this in the eShop. My first thought was, 'Why was Hytale released on Switch before Steam?'"
  • The frustration extends to platform oversight, with one user criticizing Nintendo for doing "zero vetting for products on their platform."

A Persistent Problem for Major Franchises

Unfortunately, Hytale is far from the only victim of these prolific copycats. It is a common industry issue where hit games spawn low-effort clones as unscrupulous developers attempt to fool players into believing they are purchasing the genuine article. This pattern has previously forced major rights holders to seek legal recourse for significant damages.

For instance, just last year, The Pokémon Company was awarded substantial financial compensation following a lawsuit against a Chinese mobile game titled Pocket Monster: Remake. That infringing game featured seemingly unaltered Pikachu artwork from the original Pokémon Yellow box as its app icon and utilized branding that included Ash Ketchum, Tepig, and Oshawott without permission. These cases highlight how easily copyright-infringing materials can slip through digital storefronts to capitalize on established IP.

The Real Hytale Experience: Early Access on PC

While the imitator fests on consoles, the real Hytale remains available exclusively via early access on PC, purchasable only through its official website. This sandbox RPG blends the creative freedom of a builder with the narrative momentum of an RPG, allowing players to explore a procedurally generated world filled with dungeons, secrets, and diverse creatures before shaping it block by block.

In our recent review of the early access version, we awarded the game a 7/10, noting that "Hytale's Early Access launch already offers an enjoyable take on Minecraft with some thoughtful additions and lots of room to grow." For those seeking the authentic experience, the official site remains the only legitimate source for the current build.

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.