Controversial Animal Sim Surfaces on PlayStation Store

Anime Life Sim: A Striking Resemblance to Animal Crossing: New Horizons

A recently unveiled PlayStation game, Anime Life Sim, has sparked controversy due to its uncanny resemblance to Animal Crossing: New Horizons (ACNH). The game not only shares a strikingly similar visual style with Nintendo's popular title but also appears to replicate its core gameplay loop.

While Animal Crossing has inspired countless games, Anime Life Sim stands out for its seemingly direct imitation. Developed and published by IndieGames3000, this upcoming indie title, listed on the PlayStation Store, has drawn considerable attention for its blatant copying of ACNH's design and mechanics.

A PS Store Description That Echoes ACNH

The similarities extend beyond mere aesthetics. Anime Life Sim's PlayStation Store description mirrors that of ACNH, promising players a "charming social simulation" experience. The description highlights features such as home building and decoration, befriending animal neighbors, and engaging in familiar activities like fishing, bug catching, gardening, crafting, and fossil hunting – all core mechanics directly lifted from ACNH.

Legal Considerations: Gameplay vs. Visuals

According to patent analyst Florian Mueller, game rules themselves are generally not patentable. However, the legal landscape shifts when considering visual elements. Copyright law protects aspects such as art style, character design, and specific graphical elements in many jurisdictions. Therefore, any potential legal action by Nintendo against Anime Life Sim would likely center on the game's visual similarities to ACNH.

Nintendo's reputation for aggressive legal action is well-established. Whether or not they will pursue action against Anime Life Sim remains to be seen. Currently, Anime Life Sim is slated for a February 2026 release, with the PS Store listing not specifying compatibility with PS4.

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