PlayStation Promotion Of Ebola Village Sparks Confusion And Backlash

Ebola Village has resurfaced in an unexpected place. The survival horror game, widely criticized for its close resemblance to Capcom’s Resident Evil series, is now being promoted by PlayStation ahead of its PlayStation 5 release scheduled for January 23. The trailer appeared on the official PlayStation YouTube channel, placing the title in front of a global audience and prompting renewed scrutiny of Sony’s storefront standards.

Developed by a studio operating under the name Indie_Games_Studio, Ebola Village presents itself as a “classic survival horror game from the 90s with a focus on atmosphere and player immersion.” Since its initial appearance, the game has drawn attention less for its mechanics than for how directly it mirrors Resident Evil, including the use of a similar font in its key art. That resemblance has remained central to discussion as the game expands beyond PC.

The Steam version launched in May and immediately raised concerns. Its store page contains awkward phrasing attributed to translation errors, alongside artwork described as coming from a “neural network,” despite appearing to be generated by artificial intelligence. The page also includes a warning advising players with a “weak psyche” to avoid the game’s content. The title’s use of “Ebola” has further unsettled players, given the virus’s real-world history and severity, including its transmission through bodily fluids and its high mortality rate in regions without access to treatment.

Despite these red flags, the PlayStation trailer positions Ebola Village as a standard upcoming release. The footage highlights first-person combat and hostile villagers wielding axes and chainsaws. Several scenes closely resemble sequences from Resident Evil 4, including enemies whose heads rupture to reveal parasitic organisms similar to Las Plagas. The parallels extend beyond structure into visual language, leaving little room for interpretation as homage or parody.

Reaction to PlayStation’s involvement was swift. One commenter wrote:

“Official PlayStation account advertising a genuine rip-off shovelware game might be a new low.”

Another added:

“What are we doing here man?”

Both responses reflect broader frustration with the increasing volume of low-quality or derivative titles appearing on major digital storefronts, often with minimal oversight.

The decision to promote Ebola Village has prompted questions about how trailers are vetted before publication on official channels. Sony has not commented on the selection process, nor addressed why a title with such a contentious presentation was given visibility alongside higher-profile releases. The absence of explanation has only amplified speculation that automated or minimally reviewed pipelines are being used to manage the volume of incoming content.

Ebola Village’s PlayStation 5 release remains scheduled for January 23. Whether the attention generated by controversy translates into sales remains unclear, but the episode has already reignited debate around platform responsibility, content moderation, and the line between inspiration and imitation in game development.

Read also about January 2026 PlayStation Plus lineup, led by Need for Speed Unbound alongside Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed and Core Keeper. The three titles will be available to PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 subscribers from January 6 through February 2.