The world of virtual reality gaming is buzzing with controversy as VRWOOD, a developer known for its VR creations, faces an intellectual property dilemma. The company is considering a range of protective measures following the release announcement of HoYoverse’s new game, Petit Planet, which they argue shares an uncanny resemblance to their own title, Little Planet.
VR Innovations and Claims of Similarity
Little Planet made its official debut on Meta Quest just a week ago, following an early access launch in November 2023. This VR life simulation game allows players to engage in crafting, make friends with talking animal neighbors, and dress up their own little planet, all in a sandbox environment reminiscent of Animal Crossing. Though VRWOOD acknowledges its similarities to Animal Crossing, the team emphasizes its inspiration from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s classic, The Little Prince.
Interestingly, while Petit Planet shares these features—a life sim sandbox on a small planet with crafting, customization, and social online components—it’s the execution that VRWOOD highlights. Petit Planet, with its anticipated release on PC and mobile, takes place on the Galactic Bazaar, a multiplayer setting akin to Little Planet’s StarNexus. Despite the similarities, the main difference lies in their platforms and budgets; however, VRWOOD aims to expand Little Planet beyond VR to include PC, console, and mobile versions.
Timeline and Trademark Concerns
The bigger issue arises from the timeline; Little Planet has been available since November 2023, while Petit Planet’s trademark wasn’t registered until October 2024, and the game itself was only announced in September 2025. Although Petit Planet is currently available in beta, it appears to require further development, with reports indicating the presence of AI-generated text in its beta version.
Frank Zhaung, CEO of VRWOOD and Little Planet’s creative director, expressed disappointment over the situation, noting the similarity in name, setting, and features between the two games. He emphasized the urgency of protecting Little Planet’s intellectual property as they plan future expansions.