As major game publishers have no tolerance for “copycats,” Sony has had The Last Hope – Dead Zone Survival removed from the eShop. While Fortnite had copied PUBG, some IP mimics can be too on the nose to go unnoticed. Regarding The Last Hope – Dead Zone Survival by VG Games, the lack of originality and overall quality was enough to warrant its removal. The Last of Us is one of the most iconic games ever, and several games have paid tribute to it without completely ripping it off. The Last Hope instead went a different route by blatantly copying MCs and cover art. Sony took notice and got the game removed from Nintendo’s eShop due to a copyright issue.
Why Was The Last Hope – Dead Zone Survival Removed From eShop?
The clearly stolen designs from The Last of Us likely merited The Last Hope‘s removal from UK’s eShop. Right down to the clothes that the female character Eva wears, it’s pretty evident why this game was given the boot, along with its extreme lack of polish. Furthermore, the game has been one of the most criticized of the year. Many gaming sites refused to review it due to its poor overall quality. For reference, the game currently sits at a shameful 1.8 User Score on Metacritic.
It’s not new that false advertising has been a problem in the video game industry. Likewise, the screenshots for The Last Hope advertise a completely different-looking experience. For those interested in what it looks like in action, dedicated Youtuber Rockki decided to speed run it, finishing the entire game in a mere 13 minutes:
The Last Hope – Dead Zone Survival looked to provide a gritty yet engaging experience to the Nintendo Switch. If it had delivered on this, Nintendo might have fought harder for it to stay. Ultimately, the blatant copying of Naughty Dog’s masterpiece and unacceptable game quality got The Last Hope removed.