{"id":65251,"date":"2026-04-14T18:04:20","date_gmt":"2026-04-14T09:04:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/?p=65251"},"modified":"2026-04-14T18:09:53","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T09:09:53","slug":"misleading-hytale-sandbox-rpg-copycat-game-launches-on-nintendo-store-original-developers-taking-legal-measures","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/news\/misleading-hytale-sandbox-rpg-copycat-game-launches-on-nintendo-store-original-developers-taking-legal-measures\/","title":{"rendered":"Misleading \u201cHytale: Sandbox RPG\u201d copycat game launches on Nintendo store, original developers taking legal measures\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A game titled \u201cHytale: Sandbox RPG,\u201d bearing uncanny resemblance to Hypixel Studio\u2019s Hytale<\/strong>, has appeared on the Nintendo eShop, and as many confused users suspected, it appears to be a blatant knock-off. Hytale\u2019s developers say<\/a> they\u2019re already aware of the issue and are taking legal action. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The original Hytale is a sandbox RPG that launched in Early Access for PC in January 2026. Developed by the team behind the popular Minecraft server Hypixel, the title endured several delays and even a hiatus in development before making a huge comeback, debuting with 2.8 million concurrent players. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The curious thing is, despite there being no mention of a Switch release for Hytale, the game Hytale: Sandbox RPG launched on the North American Nintendo store out of nowhere on April 10. The developer is RoVi Ninen, who has no affiliation with Hypixel Studio. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The \u201cfake\u201d Hytale is priced at only $7.99 and is currently discounted at $4.99 (while the original game\u2019s Standard Edition costs $19.99). The box art featured on the Nintendo store page closely resembles Hytale\u2019s key visual art which, combined with the equally dishonest naming, suggests the publisher is attempting to mislead users into thinking it\u2019s the official game. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Hypixel\u00a0Studio's
Hypixel Studio’s Hytale<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"RoVi
RoVi Ninen’s “Hytale Sandbox RPG”<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Following inquiries from users on X, Hypixed Studio founder Simon confirmed that the devs were aware of the issue, with their legal team taking action. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In recent years, there has been a steady stream of cases where, after a hit game is released, knockoffs that mislead users into believing they are ports of the original begin circulating on both console and mobile platforms. Last September, an app that plagiarized the roguelike slot machine game CloverPit was released for iOS and even made it to the store\u2019s bestseller chart, prompting developer Panik Arcade to issue a warning<\/a> to users not to purchase it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

RoVi Ninen, the developer of Hytale: Sandbox RPG, appears to be repeating this tactic. Not only in the case of Hytale, but in January this year, they released Mage Battle Arena, which bears a striking resemblance to Mage Arena, <\/em>on the Nintendo eShop, and in March, they released COIN PIT, another CloverPit copycat game. When COIN PIT was released for the Switch in January, the developers once again urged users on Reddit<\/a> not to purchase it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although COIN PIT has since been removed from the store, Mage Battle Arena and the latest title, Hytale: Sandbox RPG, are still available for purchase as of April 14, when this article was written. While users are dumbfounded about how these games even make it to platforms like the Nintendo store, it appears that without firm action from rights holders, such cases are likely to go unchecked. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On that note, you can purchase the original Hytale via the official website<\/a> for PC (Windows\/macOS\/Linux). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Related: Silent Hill f rip-off mobile game lifts screenshots\u00a0from original, takes place in convenience store for some reason\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jujutsu Kaisen production team cracks down on rip-off mobile games featuring characters \u201coddly similar\u201d to those in the anime. \u201cWe will be taking strict measures\u201d<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The game titled “Hytale: Sandbox RPG” currently available on the North American Nintendo Store has no connection to the official Hytale.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":88,"featured_media":65258,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_gspb_post_css":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[18],"class_list":["post-65251","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-global-news"],"blocksy_meta":[],"yoast_head":"\nMisleading \u201cHytale: Sandbox RPG\u201d copycat game launches on Nintendo store, original developers taking legal measures\u00a0 - AUTOMATON WEST<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The game titled "Hytale: Sandbox RPG" currently available on the North American Nintendo Store has no connection to the official Hytale.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/news\/misleading-hytale-sandbox-rpg-copycat-game-launches-on-nintendo-store-original-developers-taking-legal-measures\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Misleading \u201cHytale: Sandbox RPG\u201d copycat game launches on Nintendo store, original developers taking legal measures\u00a0 - 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