Posted in: Games, Video Games | Tagged: battle royale, Fortnite, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, PUBG

Bluehole Takes Notice Of Fortnite's Battle Royale Comparisons To PUBG

Published Fri, 22 Sep 2017 07:45:26 -0500

Last updated Fri, 22 Sep 2017 08:26:15 -0500

Bluehole, the publishers of the now constantly popular battle royale game PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, have decided to formally respond to fan concerns that Fortnite has, for lack of a better term, ripped them off. In a press release sent out this morning, PUBG's team addresses a growing concern that Fortnite's recent battle royale addition is, in many ways, a direct copy of their system. We're sure there's going to be an argument made soon that PUBG's system looks like a ripoff of H1Z1, but that's a discussion for tomorrow after that argument blows up on Reddit. Below is the most important snippet from the press release, in which the likeness is addressed and it sounds like Bluehole may be contemplating legal action. But we're curious what you think. Is Fortnite's versions a copycat, or are they simply capitalizing on a genre that's gained popularity in recent years?

"We've had an ongoing relationship with Epic Games throughout PUBG's development as they are the creators of UE4, the engine we licensed for the game," said Chang Han Kim, Vice President and Executive Producer for Bluehole, Inc. "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."

The development team for PUBG has no relationship to Fortnite's development as concerns around User Interface (UI), gameplay and structural replication in the battle royale mode exist.

"We have also noticed that Epic Games references PUBG in the promotion of Fortnite to their community and in communications with the press," Chang Han Kim continues. "This was never discussed with us and we don't feel that it's right." … "Other companies will, of course, enter the marketplace, but I would just hope they put their own spin on the game mode and not just make a carbon copy!"

Chang Han Kim closed, "The PUBG community has and continues to provide evidence of the many similarities as we contemplate further action."

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