Chinese developer JOTOYO has addressed comparisons between its upcoming game Monster Fantasy and the Monster Hunter series, following reactions to a recent trailer.

Last month, JOTOYO gave the public a first look at an early build of Monster Fantasy, an RPG that combines monster hunting with cozy life-sim elements. Alongside a hands-on event, the studio released a trailer showing off gameplay footage. The trailer, particularly its hunting scenes, quickly drew comparisons to Monster Hunter. Beyond the general idea of battling large monsters, some viewers pointed to the long sword and bow weapon movements as looking especially familiar, with a few calling the similarities too close for comfort.

The developers responded to these comments in a Q&A posted on Steam. In it, JOTOYO acknowledged that Monster Hunter has been a major source of inspiration, noting that the core creators behind the game are fans of the series. However, they explained that Monster Fantasy is meant to place more focus on how different gameplay systems interact with one another. According to the team, hunting large monsters is only one part of the experience, and once players get hands-on time with the game, they expect it to feel noticeably different overall.

JOTOYO said its goal is to build a fantasy world where players can get immersed in more than just hunting and combat, including building villages, living a relaxed life, and forming friendly relationships with villagers. With a playtest currently expected in September, players won’t have to wait too long to see whether these changes make a noticeable difference in how the game feels to actually play.