Major Studio Accused of Copying Onmyoji's Susanoo Design — Netizens Roast: 'You've Grabbed the Softest Persimmon'

A single comparison image has ignited yet another cross-game "inspiration" controversy in the Chinese gaming community.

Recently, a user on NGA (China's largest gaming forum) posted alleging that a character from a major studio's game bore a striking resemblance to Susanoo (须佐之男), a popular shikigami from NetEase's mobile RPG Onmyoji (阴阳师). The side-by-side comparison images showed notable similarities in design and overall aesthetic, catching the attention of many players. The OP, however, added a tongue-in-cheek disclaimer: "Allegedly, allegedly — no lawsuit means no copying." In other words, without a legal ruling, it all remains in the realm of "suspiciously similar."

The post quickly blew up in the comments. First to arrive were the die-hard Susanoo fans —

"You dare copy our 'Sister Susa's' design? We'll blast you into oblivion!" wrote one furious player. "Sister Susa" (须姐) is an affectionate nickname for Susanoo, and "wall" (墙头) is fan-culture slang for a beloved character. The message was clear: copying a fan-favorite character is asking for trouble.

But rather than pure outrage, most players opted for a more uniquely Chinese gaming tradition: self-deprecating humor. One commenter delivered what became the thread's most iconic line: "You've picked a fight with Onmyoji fans? Congratulations, you've grabbed the softest persimmon there is." They continued: "Susa fans can only throw their weight around inside their own little wasp nest — their actual combat power in the outside world is probably mediocre at best." This masterclass in self-roasting perfectly captures the Onmyoji community's self-aware reputation: fierce infighters internally, but notoriously ineffective at rallying external support. This kind of "I roast myself before you can" humor is practically a badge of honor among veteran Onmyoji players.

Others took a more creative approach, suggesting that since Susanoo was already being "borrowed," the company might as well copy the entire character family: "Why not bring over Yutaki and Taki too? Make it the chopstick trio!" The "chopstick" nickname refers to Susanoo, Yutaki, and Taki — three Onmyoji characters with notably slender builds who fans jokingly call the "Chopstick Family."

Some dug up Susanoo's own embarrassing history: "They've really mastered the essence of September Bamboo-Pole Susa" — a reference to a past update that made Susanoo's model even thinner, earning the mocking nickname "bamboo pole." The irony that this "bamboo pole" design is now being copied gave the whole situation a comedic twist.

One user posted a meme image with the caption "Honor of Kings is about to have its own Susanoo now," explicitly pointing the finger at Tencent's mega-hit Honor of Kings (王者荣耀) — NetEase's longtime rival. Their exasperated reaction: "It's really Susa-Susa and Anoo-Anoo" — a play on the character's name using baby-talk reduplication to express weary disbelief at the deja vu.

Veterans also brought up historical precedent: "NetEase's games have called out Honor of Kings on Weibo multiple times already — can they do it again?" This references past instances where NetEase-affiliated accounts publicly accused Honor of Kings of copying character designs on social media, implying another round of public drama might be brewing.

For the majority of spectators, though, the response was refreshingly simple: "Grabbing popcorn and watching the show." In the world of gacha and anime-style games, accusations of design "borrowing" and "coincidental similarities" are practically a recurring seasonal event. The real entertainment, as always, lives in the comment section.

As of publication, neither company has issued an official response. Will this "Chopstick Family Defense War" escalate into a legal battle, or fizzle out as just another round of online finger-pointing? Stay tuned.