If you thought today in gaming was going to be chill, think again. We’ve got lawsuits, near-cancellations, free content drops, and the ongoing struggle of massive fan projects somehow surviving in the shadow of corporate game development. Let’s dive in.
Marvel Rivals Almost Didn’t Exist Because It Wasn’t an Original IP
Apparently, NetEase’s founder is not the biggest fan of licensing IPs. According to reports, Marvel Rivals was nearly scrapped just because it wasn’t an original creation. Now, I get the frustration of constantly working under the shadow of established franchises, but let’s be real—an Overwatch-style hero shooter with Marvel characters is going to print money.
The fact that the game almost didn’t make it because of a philosophical stance on originality is wild. Of all the reasons to cancel a game, “It’s not ours” seems like an odd hill to die on. But here we are, and thankfully, it survived the chopping block. Now we just have to hope it actually plays well.
Pokémon Company Forces a Public Apology Over a Chinese Knockoff
Ah, copyright battles—gaming’s never-ending drama. This time, The Pokémon Company went after a Chinese developer for, well, pretty much remaking Pokémon. The lawsuit ended in a legal settlement, a public apology, and what I assume was a very uncomfortable corporate meeting.
It’s always fascinating to see how far people push “inspiration” before a major company steps in. The apology was very much “We are deeply sorry for blatantly copying Pokémon, please don’t sue us into oblivion.” A valuable lesson: if you’re going to rip off an iconic franchise, maybe don’t pick one that has an army of lawyers on speed dial.
Delta Force: Hawk Ops Drops a Free Black Hawk Down Campaign
In a move that actually benefits players (a rare sight these days), Delta Force: Hawk Ops just released a free Black Hawk Down campaign. It’s a nostalgic throwback to the 2003 game, which was itself based on the actual military operation.
Free single-player content is basically a unicorn in today’s market of overpriced DLC and battle passes, so this is a nice surprise. Whether the campaign holds up remains to be seen, but for the low price of nothing, it’s hard to complain.
Skyblivion: The Remake Mod That Just Won’t Die
The Skyblivion mod—aka Oblivion rebuilt in the Skyrim engine—has been in the works for over a decade. But now, rumors are swirling again about its release in 2025. The modding team has been grinding away at this thing for so long that Elder Scrolls 6 will probably come out before it’s finished. (Okay, maybe that’s an exaggeration… maybe.)
Massive fan projects like this are both impressive and tragic. The sheer dedication is incredible, but Bethesda’s track record with mods and unofficial remakes always makes me nervous. Will Skyblivion ever see the light of day? Hopefully. But until it actually launches, I’ll remain cautiously optimistic.
X-COM’s Original Creator Would Return—If Firaxis Asks Nicely
Julian Gollop, the creator of the original X-COM, has hinted that he’d return to the franchise if Firaxis ever invited him back. It’s an interesting thought, considering Firaxis has done a great job with the modern XCOM games. But having the original mastermind involved could bring a fresh (or old-school) perspective.
The real question is: does Firaxis even want him back? Or are they happy doing their own thing? Either way, Gollop’s return would be a big deal for fans who still swear by the classic 1994 version.
Dragon Age Dev Faces Harassment Over YouTube Comments
Mark Darrah, former Dragon Age dev and current Veilguard consultant, has been getting harassed over his YouTube comments. Some fans aren’t thrilled with the direction of Veilguard, and instead of, you know, expressing that like rational humans, they’ve opted for personal attacks. Classic internet behavior.
Look, criticism is fine. Game developers should be open to feedback. But harassing someone over a game that isn’t even out yet? That’s just embarrassing. If Veilguard ends up being a mess, we’ll have plenty of time to complain when it’s actually released. Until then, let’s cool it with the pitchforks.
