I’m in a tough spot and could use some advice. I recently found out that my indie game, which I spent ages developing solo, has been copied and released on major consoles without my permission. It’s basically a worse version of my original, with some AI-generated stuff slapped on top.
The copycats changed the title slightly and are selling it as their own. They took everything - the gameplay, sounds, music, you name it. Only tweaked the monster design and a few visuals.
I’ve already started the process to get it taken down, but it’s still up on one platform. It’s crazy how these big console stores let this happen.
Has anyone dealt with something like this before? What steps should I take next? I’m working with a lawyer, but I’m worried about the costs as a small dev.
Also, how can other indie devs protect themselves from this kind of theft? Any tips on making our games harder to rip off?
Thanks for any help or suggestions. It’s a real bummer, but I want to make sure other devs and players don’t get scammed like this.
That’s messed up. Cloning games is a huge problem these days. I’ve seen it happen to mobile games a lot too. Maybe add some unique elements that are hard to copy? Like special art styles or gameplay twists. Good luck dealing with those copycats.
Ugh, that’s so frustrating. Cloning is a real problem in the indie scene. I’ve seen devs use stuff like custom shaders or unique art styles to make games harder to copy. Might be worth looking into for your next project. Hope you get it sorted out soon.
Man, that’s a nightmare scenario. I’ve heard of this happening before but never thought it’d be so blatant. Dealing with the legal side is crucial, but don’t forget to make some noise on social media too.
Get your fans involved. They can report the clone and spread the word about the real game. It sucks, but staying visible and active in the community can help weather this storm.