Earlier this month, developer Epic Games announced a Battle Royale mode for its game Fortnite, and as it turns out, the makers of that other Battle Royale game aren’t too thrilled.
In a press release this morning, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds developer Bluehole took a shot at Epic Games, calling out Fortnite for cloning the 100-man PVP gameplay style with its upcoming free update ‘Battle Royale.’
“We’ve had an ongoing relationship with Epic Games throughout PUBG‘s development as they are the creators of [Unreal Engine 4], the engine we licensed for the game,” Bluehole vice president Chang Han Kim said in the press release. “After listening to the growing feedback from our community and reviewing the gameplay for ourselves, we are concerned that Fortnite may be replicating the experience for which PUBG is known.”
And he kept going: “We have also noticed that Epic Games references PUBG in the promotion of Fortnite to their community and in communications with the press. This was never discussed with us and we don’t feel that it’s right.”
This may be a reference to Epic creative director Donald Mustard’s note on the PlayStation Blog, in which he wrote: “We love Battle Royale games like PUBG and thought Fortnite would make a great foundation for our own version.”
Bluehole’s Kim closed the press release with the ominous note that he and his company plan to “contemplate further action”.
This is some good drama. One might even say that both companies just jumped off a plane into a big battlefield, and that the last one standing will win.
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25 responses to “PUBG Developer Attacks Fortnite For ‘Replicating’ Game”
But we all realise that the battle royale style of game easily pre-dates pubg, right?
I can’t see a single legal avenue for bluehole, and if they try anything against epic they’re going to have to find a new engine for their next title.
After all you always have to be in the right to legally claim something don’t you, its not like a company could just claim a genre like Cyberpunk and legally own it.
Exactly, it’s not like multiple games having death match or king of the hill or capture the flag ruined other games that had similar modes. If you can’t keep players in your game it means you’re doing something wrong (or players have just got tired of it). Suing another company isn’t the answer.
The creator of PUBG was the original creator of the “Battle Royale” gamemode. He created the original mod for Arma 2. He is the inventor of the mode.
Battle royale is just last team standing on a large map, the mode has been around for ages. Brendan Greene’s ego has been thoroughly massaged from Battlegrounds’ success, but he certainly didn’t invent the genre.
As an example, Survival Games mods for Minecraft were around before the DayZ mod was first released, let alone Greene’s submod.
Funny. I seem to remember the same mode in Unreal Tournament and Quake.
Its funny considering they did not create the Battle Royal genre.
In fact the whole idea of “Last man standing” in a combat zone that is increasingly shrinking came from a 2000 japanese film that is ironically titled Battle Royal. This becomes even more obvious when some of the cosmetic items in PUBG are related to this Battle Royal film.
It’s like Bluehole truly think they invented the genre. Lol.
As the great George Costanza once said; It’s not a lie, if you believe it.
well they wont release PUB on PS4 will they
Sounds like they are scared of competition. This is the MOBA scene all over again.
I highly doubt they’re scared of Fortnight’s battle royale mode lol.
The might be because it’s Free to Play
Considering it’s Epic who has the failing MOBA I assume he’s referring to them trying again to venture into a genre they barely know.
They might be worried about it cannibalising their momentum as Fortnight is free and releasing the mode on consoles well be PUBG can sink their hooks into the player base. Doesn’t even have to be good it could just actually put people off buying because it may sour their whole opinion of Battle Royal modes in general.
Koushun Takami to sue PUBG because of similarities to Battle Royale >
In other news FIFA and PES would prefer each other not to exist.
Yeah pretty much sums it up.
They’ll get a rude awakening when so many other games make their own BR mode.
I would love for DICE to have a go.
Battle Royale Author Attacks PUBG For ‘Replicating’ Book
Well, if your game cant handle a little competition then it just isnt good enough.
PUBG was always going to get cloned. Too much money to be made.
So they’ve opened their mouths about it, guaranteeing Fortnite Battle Royale is plastered over every gaming website and come off as idiots in the process? Smooth move.
I really hope these morons do decide to sue Tencent and the people who supply their engine.
I’m getting some strong Silicon Knights vibes off this.
And we all know how well that worked out for them. BlueHole better double check they’re up to date paying their royalties first 😛