Chinese studio JOTOYO has publicly responded to accusations that its upcoming PC action RPG, Monster Fantasy, closely copies Capcom's hugely popular Monster Hunter franchise. Following the game's reveal last week, fans quickly criticised the project, with some alleging that monster and player animations — and even the main theme music — had been lifted from Capcom's series. The developer felt compelled to address the backlash directly through a new Q&A section on Steam, making the story notable as another flashpoint in the ongoing debate over "inspired-by" games and potential plagiarism.

In its response, JOTOYO acknowledged that Monster Hunter is "one of our sources of inspiration" and that its creators are fans of the series, but insisted the overall experience would prove "quite different" once players tried it. The studio stressed that hunting large monsters is only one element, with the game also offering village-building, a relaxed lifestyle and friendships with villagers. JOTOYO added that it had taken the feedback seriously and was "already adjusting and improving the design." Critics remained sceptical, with the article drawing comparisons to the earlier Palworld controversy, though several commenters noted that Monster Hunter-inspired games — such as God Eater, Toukiden and Wild Hearts — are nothing new.