Unpacking Copycat Games Being Sold on Switch Eshop

by

Summary

  • Despite its success, Unpacking faced copycats on mobile and Nintendo’s eShop.
  • The copycats reskinned Unpacking’s assets on mobile and disguised themselves as official DLC on the eShop.
  • Unpacking offers a relaxing gameplay loop, telling a story through unpacking belongings without words, making it approachable for all players.

As a seasoned gamer with decades of experience under my belt, I must say that the copycat situation surrounding Witch Beam’s masterpiece, Unpacking, leaves me utterly dismayed and slightly enraged.

Up until quite recently, it seemed that numerous imitators of Witch Beam’s popular puzzle game, Unpacking , were still available on the Nintendo eShop. This was even after co-creator Wren Brier brought attention to the issue two weeks prior. Since its launch in 2021, Unpacking has garnered mainly favorable reviews and a host of awards, such as BAFTA’s EE Game of the Year and DICE’s Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game, among others. The game has also been recognized for its narrative, sound design, accessibility, animation, environmental art, and overall game design by various other outlets.

As soon as Unpacking received accolades and recognition, others saw an opportunity to capitalize on its successful concept. Consequently, the innovative indie team at Witch Beam found themselves under siege, having to defend their intellectual property almost immediately after launch. Unfortunately, these copycats were shameless, often merely repackaging Unpacking’s assets with ads and selling them in mobile game stores without any substantial changes.

Back in December, I found some suspicious games on Nintendo’s eShop that were shameless copies of a game called “Unpacking”. I reached out to Nintendo about it two weeks prior, but these clone games had already made their way onto the platform. Unlike free mobile games filled with ads, these so-called ‘Switch copycats’ were being sold for just a few dollars, which was quite odd considering that Unpacking costs $19.99. The oldest of these clones appeared in late October, with four more added a month later, all seemingly from the same account. They tried to pass themselves off as additional content (DLC) for the original game, with titles like “Chill Music Pack,” “New Chapters,” and “Haunting Locations.” As I write this, these Unpacking clones no longer seem to be available on the eShop.

Unpacking’s Copycats Seem to Have Scattered for Now

It’s been over two weeks and these are still on the eShop. Nintendo hasn’t responded to any of our reports of these egregious scams which are using our trademarked game name and purposely tricking Nintendo customers into buying cheap fakes.— Wren Brier (@wrenegade.bsky.social)2024-12-16T05:55:21.046Z

The allure of Unpacking is irresistible. Originally envisioned in early 2018 by Wren Brier, the puzzle game was first brought to life in collaboration with her partner, Tim Dawson, who was a co-director at Witch Beam. As the project grew, more team members joined this small indie group before Unpacking was eventually published by Humble Games in 2021. One of its appeals lies in its straightforward and calming gameplay rhythm.

In “Unpacking,” we journey with an unnamed character across various stages of her life, as her tale unfolds through her possessions. Starting in 1997, players sort and arrange her belongings as she relocates to different places, gradually revealing aspects of her personality and history through the objects she owns. The game’s relaxing atmosphere encourages a sense of calm as players meticulously unpack items from boxes and carefully place them in their new homes. Throughout this journey, a soothing soundtrack harmonizes with the gameplay, making “Unpacking” accessible for everyone, regardless of language skills – it’s ready to be enjoyed right off the bat.

Read More

2024-12-17 14:53