Xbox Just Got a New Soccer Game That Looks a Little Too Familiar

A new soccer game, Mariostro Strikers: Soccer League, has just launched on Xbox. If that name makes you do a double take, you’re not alone. The game bears a striking resemblance to Mario Strikers, Nintendo’s popular arcade-style soccer series.

Screenshots and gameplay clips are making the rounds, and let’s just say they’re… suspiciously familiar. The art style, characters, and even the over-the-top action all feel like they were ripped straight from Nintendo’s playbook. This wouldn’t be the first time a game has borrowed a little too heavily from an established franchise, but this one isn’t being subtle.

To add to the mess, the game’s promotional material is raising eyebrows. Some have pointed out that the developer appears to be using AI-generated images and text for marketing. Culture Crave noted this in a recent post, and the internet has been quick to pile on. Many are calling the game an obvious rip-off, while others are just here for the chaos.

We know that Nintendo isn’t going to let this pass. That company is notorious for lawsuits against anything that remotely resembles one of its IPs. We’ve seen that in play with Palworld and even a supermarket called Super Mario. So, with this game blatantly ripping off Nintendo’s most beloved character, whoever developed it needs to lawyer up soon.

Right now, Mariostro Strikers: Soccer League is available on Xbox, but the real question is: how long will it stay there? Nintendo isn’t exactly known for letting things like this slide.