A new title reminiscent of the popular life simulation genre has emerged on the PlayStation Store, following the discontinuation of a similar offering earlier this year.
A user on Reddit, known as YellowFlower69, shared a screenshot of a game named Anime Village Online, which they discovered on the PlayStation platform.
Currently active as per the store listing, this game indicates a development timeline stretching toward 2027, with Wisnu Sudirman credited as the developer.
Artistic Inspiration
Although there are no available screenshots yet for Anime Village Online, its artwork strongly echoes themes found in Nintendo’s Animal Crossing series.
The description of the game invites players to immerse themselves in a delightful simulation experience: “Welcome to Anime Village Online, a cozy life simulation game where you can create your dream village, decorate your home, and enjoy a peaceful world — all while playing solo or with friends online.”
Concerns Regarding Quality
Responses on Reddit are expressing skepticism regarding how this game, with a potentially dubious art style, found its way onto the PlayStation Store. This isn’t the first incident this year related to such concerns.
Earlier in January, Anime Life Sim surfaced on the PlayStation Store, showcasing a similarly inspired visual style. Developed by Maksym Vysochanskyy, he previously faced backlash for producing low-quality ‘asset flips’ from franchises like Monster Hunter.
At that time, reports indicated that Anime Life Sim utilized screenshots from a template for a ‘CozyLife Social Sim Game’ accessible via Fab, an asset marketplace aimed at developers.
Both the original game template on Fab and the listing for Anime Life Sim have since been pulled from circulation.
Future of Anime Village Online
As for Anime Village Online, it remains uncertain if it will reach its projected release in 2027, or if it might be taken down before that time.
The recurring question for many is how such a game managed to be listed on the PlayStation Store, particularly in light of the previous issues surrounding Anime Life Sim.
The Broader Context
The dilemma of low-quality ‘knock-off’ games is not confined to just one platform, with the Switch eShop also experiencing a plethora of subpar ‘asset flip’ titles designed primarily for search optimization.
For instance, two years ago, a game titled The Last Hope: Dead Zone Survival was removed from the Switch eShop. It faced allegations of being a shoddy imitation of The Last of Us. Digital Foundry criticized it severely, even labeling it “The worst game we’ve ever tested,” in a video that highlighted its outdated graphics.
