Hytale copycat sued

Hypixel Studios says it is taking legal action against a Nintendo eShop game called “Hytale: Sandbox RPG,” which it says is not part of the real Hytale project. (ign.com) Hypixel founder Simon Collins-Laflamme confirmed the move on X, saying the matter was “being handled by the legal team,” after players flagged the Switch listing to the studio. IGN reported the eShop game appeared last week. (ign.com) Nintendo Life reported the Switch listing was published by a developer called RoVi Ninen and sold at a discounted price of £4.99. The outlet said the listing copied both the Hytale name and artwork closely enough to mislead buyers. (nintendolife.com) That confusion lands at a sensitive moment for Hytale, because the real game only entered Early Access on PC in January 2026. Hypixel’s official support pages say Early Access began on January 13, 2026, and the game is sold through the studio’s own store and launcher. (support.hytale.com, hytale.com) Hypixel has spent the past year rebuilding trust around the project after a public cancellation and revival. In a November 17, 2025 post, the studio said it had reacquired Hytale from Riot Games, rehired more than 30 developers, and returned to the game’s original vision. (hytale.com) The studio’s own timeline says Riot’s version of Hytale was canceled on June 23, 2025, before the founders bought it back months later. Hypixel then announced on November 28, 2025 that Early Access would start on January 13, 2026. (hytale.com, hytale.com) The legal issue is straightforward: game studios use trademark and copyright law to stop other sellers from using confusingly similar names, logos, or art that could make customers think a product is official. The United States Patent and Trademark Office says trademark searches and enforcement are built around the risk of “likelihood of confusion.” (uspto.gov) Reports on the eShop listing also point to a broader storefront problem. IGN said Reddit users described the Switch eShop as crowded with knock-off games, and Nintendo Life said RoVi Ninen had already been accused of copying another indie title called CloverPit with a separate game named “Coin Pit.” (ign.com, nintendolife.com) As of these reports, Hypixel’s public position is narrow: the Switch game is not official, and the studio wants it handled through legal channels. The immediate question now is whether the listing is removed before more players mistake it for the real Hytale. (ign.com, opencritic.com)