title: "Genshin Impact’s map event is drawing copycat claims from indie game Map Map" devs excerpt: "An unreleased indie cartography game is calling out Genshin Impact over a" very similar map-based event mechanic, and players are split on what it means. category: esports date: '2026-04-16T12:01:05+08:00' author: Aimirul tags:
- Genshin Impact
- Map Map
- miHoYo
- indie games featured: false coverImage: /images/esports/genshin-impact-s-map-event-is-drawing-copycat-claims-from-indie-game-map-map-devs.jpg
A small indie studio is putting Genshin Impact under the spotlight after fans noticed a very familiar Permainan idea in one of the RPG’s recent event quests.
The game at the centre of the discussion is Map Map, an unreleased cozy title from German developer Pipapo Games. Its whole hook is built around surveying land, studying maps, and marking important spots as precisely as possible while hunting for lost treasure. The game also gives players measurement tools based on real cartography equipment, which are used to unlock access to new areas.
That is why Pipapo says Genshin’s new surveying event felt a bit too close for comfort.
Earlier this month, Genshin Impact added quests that ask players to identify exact coordinates on a map. Your score depends on how close your chosen point is to the intended location. Pipapo recently posted a side-by-side comparison video on social media showing how both games handle that core idea, and the studio clearly thinks the overlap is more than just a random coincidence.
What makes the situation more awkward is the timing. Map Map still has not launched, but it has been in development for several years and already had a demo out in 2025. That demo picked up attention, including nominations for several game development awards, and it also appeared in a Wholesome Games Direct showcase. According to the report, that visibility, plus similarities in the map animations, is part of why Pipapo suspects miHoYo may have taken inspiration from its project.
Neither Pipapo Games nor miHoYo immediately responded to a request for comment.
On Reddit, one Pipapo developer said the team spent a lot of time building what they believed was a unique concept, so seeing a giant game use something similar right before their own release was a strange feeling. At the same time, the studio does not sound like it wants to start a full-on war with HoYoverse. In follow-up replies, the developer said they are not looking for “beef,” and even admitted the whole situation gave the team some confidence. They also said some publishers had previously questioned whether the game’s concept was casual enough for a broad audience.
That part is probably the most interesting takeaway. If one of the biggest live service games in the world can make this kind of map-reading activity work inside a limited-time event, it also suggests there may be real demand for a full game built around that idea.
And honestly, a lot of players seem to agree. Some Genshin fans are telling Pipapo to treat this as a marketing boost instead of a disaster. There is always the possibility that two teams simply arrived at a similar idea on their own, and even if inspiration did happen, proving that would be difficult. Some commenters also pointed out that making too much noise could invite comparisons between Map Map and exploration games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
One Genshin player summed up the mood pretty well, saying they loved the event and would happily buy a standalone game that offered more depth without the live service baggage.
For Malaysian and wider SEA players, this story hits because Genshin Impact is massive here. If you played the recent event, you probably recognised the mechanic immediately. It is also a reminder of how hard it is for indie teams to stand out when a giant title introduces a similar idea to a much bigger audience overnight. At minimum, this controversy is giving Map Map more visibility than ever, and that might end up being the real win.
Source: Polygon
