Square Enix Taking Legal Action to Prevent US Release of "Front Mission-style" Game

[T0@st]

Square Enix's long-running Front Mission franchise was set to expand with an all-new entry—Front Mission 2089: Borderscape—first revealed back in April 2022. The Japanese multinational publisher announced BlackJack Studio as their chosen development partner on this fledgling project, destined for launch on mobile platforms (Android and iOS). Months later, this collaboration was terminated. Video game news outlets have picked up on a new-ish lawsuit; filed on March 13 in a Seattle, Washington court. Contained information indicates that Square Enix ended a licensing agreement and canceled development in October 2022. The 26-page legal document alleges that HK Ten Tree Limited (aka BlackJack Studio) had produced a "Front Mission-style" game that reuses assets from the shelved "2089: Borderscape" title.

BlackJack's Mecharashi IP is advertised on Steam as a: "mecha-themed tactical turn-based game. The game adopts a Front Mission-style combat system, where you can assemble mechas however you want, equip a wide selection of weapons, and choose your favorite pilots to engage in battle." According to the latest reports, Mecharashi/Metal Storm has already launched in China and Japan—a Western release is "coming soon." Square Enix seems intent on preventing the game from reaching a wider audience. According to Polygon, the Japanese video game giant has: "sent multiple DMCA takedown notices to get the game removed from storefronts; it was removed from Steam, but is back after a counter-claim was submitted. Square Enix said it also filed a lawsuit in Japanese court." Additionally, Square is seeking "maximum statutory damages of $150,000 for each copyright infringed." The Front Mission IP lives on in the shape of remakes—under license, Forever Entertainment S. A. developed and published Front Mission 1st: Remake (2022). Front Mission 2: Remake arrived roughly a year later, with Storm Trident S.A. taking care of development duties. Front Mission 3: Remake was unveiled last year at the Tokyo Game Show 2024.




BlackJack Studio's description reads as follows: "the clashing of mechas reverberates across Milkhama (Mecharashi)...A place where peace-seeking civilians and ideal-driven fighters alike claw for survival amidst the unending smoke of war. Factions collide, ambitious opportunists operate in the shadows, and battle and intrigue lurk in every corner."

Their primer continued with: "welcome to a new battlefield where you'll encounter waves of formidable enemies, and where strategy reigns supreme. A battlefield where mecha clashes determine fate, and your tactical decisions will forge the future. Uncover the truth within the haze, break free from destiny's chains, and boldly confront the unknown."

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[lexluthermiester]

SE might have a claim if they can prove they own(or have controlling rights to) the assets associated with the game in question. Otherwise, they're just blustering.

 

[AGlezB]

SE might have a claim if they can prove they own(or have controlling rights to) the assets associated with the game in question. Otherwise, they're just blustering.

I'm guessing SE doesn't have a patent for the combat system and is panicking because Mecharashi is way better than whatever they were going to release next. Funny how similar it looks to the GoT vs AC:S situation. Also calling a game SOMETHING-like does not constitute infringement or we'd a have a lot less games between souls, rogue, survivors, etc.

EDIT:
GoT = Ghost of Tsushima
Definitely not Game of Thrones

 

[Solaris17]

GoT

The what?

 

[AGlezB]

The what?

Ghost of Tsushima

 

[Rover4444]

The what?

Game of Thrones

 

[Kohl Baas]

Ghost of Tsushima

God of Thunder!

 

[A Computer Guy]

SE might have a claim if they can prove they own(or have controlling rights to) the assets associated with the game in question. Otherwise, they're just blustering.

Asset issues aside the Battletech game has a lot of similar concepts. Turn based, custom mechs, pilots, paint job customization, battle damage restricting movement, unique parts.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Asset issues aside the Battletech game has a lot of similar concepts. Turn based, custom mechs, pilots, paint job customization, battle damage restricting movement, unique parts.

True. But SE doesn't own those concepts, nor any combination there-of. If that's going to be their argument, it's beyond weak and is going to be a swift and case-law setting loss for them, both in Japan and here.

 

[AGlezB]

True. But SE doesn't own those concepts, nor any combination there-of. If that's going to be their argument, it's beyond weak and is going to be a swift and case-law setting loss for them, both in Japan and here.

No matter how weak it has already caused damage to Mecharashi and will continue to do so. Unless local laws specify some kind of compensation for wrongfull accusations or Mecharashi can counter sue for diffamation they'll not be able to recover completely.
That kind of aggresive tactic has been used many, many times by bigger companies to run smaller competitors into the ground, usually as a precursor of a hostile takeover. It's not something we hear often in gaming because that kind of action can be costly so it's only done when a company is absolutely sure the benefits will outweight the drawbacks... or the CEO is an idiot, which has also happened.

EDIT: "not something we hear often in gaming" except for Nintendo spending the GDP of a small country in lawyers and suing everyone in sight. I think over half the news I get from Nintendo are about them doing something legal to someone else.

 

[lexluthermiester]

No matter how weak it has already caused damage to Mecharashi and will continue to do so. Unless local laws specify some kind of compensation for wrongfull accusations or Mecharashi can counter sue for diffamation they'll not be able to recover completely.

You might be over estimating the negative effect.

That kind of aggresive tactic has been used many, many times by bigger companies to run smaller competitors into the ground, usually as a precursor of a hostile takeover.

Yeah, it's lowlife behaviour too. That is what SE has become, a bunch of lowlifes similar to Ubisoft, EA and microsoft. And only they have the power to stop being lowlifes.

 

[A Computer Guy]

True. But SE doesn't own those concepts, nor any combination there-of. If that's going to be their argument, it's beyond weak and is going to be a swift and case-law setting loss for them, both in Japan and here.

I agree.

 

[Onasi]

Unless they can prove that any assets owned by SE are used they have no case. Game-mechanics and concepts are not something that can be copyrighted or infringed upon. Otherwise, SOE could have sued Blizzard for basically ripping-off Everquest with WoW and other such cases. This is just bizzare, especially considering that the game already released in some territories.

 

[AGlezB]

You might be over estimating the negative effect.

Maybe. I also hadn't heard of Mecharashi before so it's not unthinkable the publicity this brought them could be enough to offset the damage in the long run.
Short term will depend on their financial situation allowing them to keep fighting SE because more often than not that kind of legal battle isn't lost at the court but at the bank.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Maybe. I also hadn't heard of Mecharashi before so it's not unthinkable the publicity this brought them could be enough to offset the damage in the long run.
Short term will depend on their financial situation allowing them to keep fighting SE because more often than not that kind of legal battle isn't lost at the court but at the bank.

Controversies like this often help exposure and in some cases, help sales. I think in this case SE may have shot themselves in the foot with their greedy narrow thinking, presuming they don't have a strong case, which from the surface seems unlikely.

EDIT: corrected "likely" to unlikely, which is what I meant.

 

[80-watt Hamster]

Controversies like this often help exposure and in some cases, help sales. I think in this case SE may have shot themselves in the foot with their greedy narrow thinking, presuming they don't have a strong case, which from the surface seem likely.

SE seems to be turning into Japan's version of Ubisoft. I think the lose-but-sink-defendant-via-legal-costs outcome is very likely.

 

[lexluthermiester]

SE seems to be turning into Japan's version of Ubisoft.

I can see that. Kinda sad, isn't it?

 

[GodisanAtheist]

Controversies like this often help exposure and in some cases, help sales. I think in this case SE may have shot themselves in the foot with their greedy narrow thinking, presuming they don't have a strong case, which from the surface seems likely.

-Yep, ye olde Streisand Effect.

 

[Random_User]

Reminds me the Heavy Gear. At least looks very close to, with same dubious blocky design treatment, as PGI did to MW. Just an opinion about visual appearance, since I'm not familiar with Mecharashi either.

But we'll see, how much SE can pull the Harmony Gold trick.

SE seems to be turning into Japan's version of Ubisoft. I think the lose-but-sink-defendant-via-legal-costs outcome is very likely.

This is what every single publisher is heading to. They are so short minded, that they don't see that they are ending up in the same pit. Ubisoft is just few steps behind Atari, with the same draconian and rubbish DRM policies, and comlete lack of vision and creativity.
The worst thing, that by falling dead in this pit, they all take the best and most briliant IPs with themselves. With nobody able to pick it up, or have a power to comply with it's legacy.

 

[slyphnier]

isnt it like you ordering CG scene to some CG company, but then cancelled, so then the CG company reused the scene (probably with some minor alteration)

i believe SE giving/share frontmission assets for them, at least they giving out direction on how the mecha design need to looks and how the game system work, so the BJ studio can build based those

in the end, maybe it all about the contract when they first started the project
i am guessing its more or less like SE dont giving any compensation (or the compesation is to small) for the terminated project, so BJ studio got no money thus thinking just to release the game they made for covering the production cost

But SE is big-company, and like rest of big company in this world, money what matter to them
old Squaresoft/Enix that really passionate with the game they create is long gone

in this case though, i dont think either side is good or bad

 

[lexluthermiester]

EDIT: "not something we hear often in gaming" except for Nintendo spending the GDP of a small country in lawyers and suing everyone in sight. I think over half the news I get from Nintendo are about them doing something legal to someone else.

Fair point and yeah, kinda sad..

 

[TechLurker]

Being a big Front Mission fan, I have this game on my wishlist. That said, there are a few units in the trailer that look close enough to almost be considered an asset reuse, but are also just seemingly altered enough to claim derivative rather than outright reuse.

It's worth noting that this isn't the only Front Mission-alike; there's Kreigsfront, which is an indie game that's also heavily inspired by Front Mission, to the point of using very similar designs and systems too.

 

[AGlezB]

Fair point and yeah, kinda sad..

If you order a Poke Bowl within hearing distance of a Nintendo lawyer you better make sure you're saying it properly our you won't get to say the "Bowl" part.