The development team of Mob Time is primarily known for the indie horror title Poppy Playtime. The studio is fed up with another developer misusing the name for fake apps. Google is also to blame and is now being sued.
What is the lawsuit about? Mob Time has filed a lawsuit against Google and Daigo Game 2020, Inc. in a California civil court (via de.scribd.com). The team claims that the name and brand image of Poppy Playtime are being used to scam fans.
- On January 30, 2025, the 4th chapter of Poppy Playtime was supposed to be released. However, Daigo Game 2020, Inc. had already published an app in the Google Play Store named “Poppy Playtime Chapter 4” on October 15, 2024.
- The same scenario is said to have occurred with chapter 3. The fake apps are disguised as the real version but demand up to €92.50 from players to access the full version upon opening. Afterwards, there would be an inactive URL, and the money would be gone. A similar scam exists with other well-known games like Baldur’s Gate 3.
- The lawsuit includes claims for copyright infringement, trademark dilution, and unfair competition. Mob Time is therefore seeking compensation of at least €365,000 and the removal of the fake apps from the Google Play Store.
According to Mob Time, the other developer allegedly used official images from chapter 2 of Poppy Playtime to lure players into downloading the apps. The court document consists of a total of 40 pages.
You can watch the official trailer for chapter 4 of Poppy Playtime here:
Google is not helping, hence being sued
What does Google have to do with it? The fake apps were published in the Google Play Store. Mob Entertainment is said to have repeatedly urged Google to remove the fraudulent apps from the Play Store. The first request is said to have occurred on October 31, 2024.
This led to a short-term success: on December 9, 2024, the fake app for chapter 3 was removed. However, this did not last long, as the app was back in the Play Store on January 13, 2025, and has since been among the top search results for Poppy Playtime.
In comparison: The original was downloaded over 10,000 times in the Google Play Store. The fake app, on the other hand, has over 1 million downloads (via Google Play Store).
What is Poppy Playtime? Poppy Playtime is a survival horror game released in several episodes. In an abandoned toy factory, monstrous killer toys live, appearing to be harmless stuffed animals at first glance.
How can I recognize the fake? Mob Time charges €4.59 for chapter 3 of Poppy Playtime. If you end up on the fake site, chapter 3 initially appears to be free. You should under no circumstances download this version, even if the free version seems tempting at first.
With its concept, Poppy Playtime is reminiscent of Five Nights at Freddy’s. There is a new installment that has received a staggering 96% positive reviews on Steam. To find out what is so good about the horror game, read MeinMMO: New installment of Five Nights at Freddy’s receives 96% positive reviews on Steam, hailed as the best game of 10 years
