Friday, 11 Oct 2024

Developer Admits Game Removed From Steam Included Stolen Call Of Duty Assets

In a recent update, Trek Industries, the developer behind The Orion Project, has acknowledged that their game contained assets taken from two Call of Duty games. The developer, David Prassel, posted an update admitting and explaining what happened. The situation came to light when evidence from Activision regarding the unauthorized use of assets was presented.

According to Prassel, upon receiving the evidence, it became immediately apparent that blatant rips had occurred. He mentioned that the artist responsible for the stolen assets has been fired, and steps are being taken to address the issue. Prassel also discussed past instances of content theft, primarily attributing them to freelancers. The company is now removing any offensive content identified by Activision and taking measures to restore the game to its original state.

To address the concerns raised, Trek Industries has decided to remove all DevHelmets from the game, including the Fettuccine helmet, which was previously given away for free. Other artists within the team have offered to recreate any necessary assets to expedite the restoration process. Furthermore, the company has decided to shut down its social media presence to focus solely on the game’s development and will provide updates and interactions through their website and YouTube channel.

For more details, you can read the full post on Steam.

Original Story

Earlier this week, developer Trek Industries received news that one of their games, Orion, had been removed from the Steam storefront due to a Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) complaint filed by Activision, the publisher of the Call of Duty series.

According to David Prassel, a member of the Trek Industries team, Steam decided to delist the game in response to the DMCA complaint. The complaint specifically mentioned weapon art and assets that Activision claimed were taken from Black Ops 3 and Advanced Warfare. Although Trek provided images to compare, users on NeoGAF were able to match angles to get a better look.

Activision has not provided an official comment on the matter, but it has been confirmed that a DMCA complaint was indeed filed. Valve, the company behind Steam, requires Activision to submit a legal complaint within 10 days. Failure to do so will result in Orion being relisted on the storefront.

Prassel refutes the claim made by Activision, stating that Trek Industries did not use art from the two Call of Duty games. He describes Activision’s actions as invalid and malicious, accusing them of targeting a small game without contacting the developers or providing any specific evidence of the alleged offense.

This is not the first time Trek Industries, previously known as Spiral Games, has been involved in controversy. They have previously used lifted art for a set of achievement icons, which have since been replaced. They have also been accused of using art assets from other games, such as Tribes Ascend, Natural Selection 2, and Primal Carnage.

We will provide further updates if Activision comments on the issue.

Our Take

Activision’s decision to take action against Trek Industries should not be taken lightly. The publisher rarely mentions other companies by name, preferring to focus on their own endeavors. The fact that they have chosen to delist a game during a Steam sale sends a clear message. It remains to be seen whether Activision will follow through with a formal complaint or if this serves as a warning to others. Either way, it is a crafty move that emphasizes their stance on protecting their intellectual property.

FAQs

Q: Has the developer acknowledged the use of stolen assets?

Yes, Trek Industries has admitted that assets from two Call of Duty games were included in their game, The Orion Project. The artist responsible for the stolen assets has been fired, and steps are being taken to address the issue.

Q: Will the game be relisted on Steam?

If Activision fails to provide Valve with a legal complaint within 10 days, the game will be relisted on Steam.

Q: Has Trek Industries been involved in similar controversies in the past?

Yes, the company has faced previous controversies related to the use of lifted art for achievement icons and accusations of using assets from other games. They have since replaced the lifted art and are striving to resolve any issues related to asset usage.

Conclusion

The situation involving Trek Industries and Activision highlights the importance of respecting intellectual property rights in the gaming industry. As developers, it is crucial to ensure that all assets used in a game are properly licensed or created original content. Activision’s actions serve as a reminder that unauthorized use of assets can have significant consequences. It is essential for developers to take these issues seriously and address any potential infringements promptly.