Square Enix Is Suing The Developers Behind Mecharashi

The Revival

Front Mission was a distinguished collection of video games and related media expertly produced by SquareSoft, which later evolved into Square Enix. The series was the creation Toshiro Tsuchida and underwent development by G-Craft, a studio that was eventually assimilated by Square. This studio later existed within Square Enix under the designation of Product Development Division-6.

It was recently back in 2022, Square Enix had plans for a revival of the series. They loaned out a license, adapted material, and attempted what would be considered a return to Mecha gameplay with Front Mission 2089 in collaboration with developer BlackJack Studios. The only problem is Square Enix decided to back down from the original vision.

Cancellation

Shortly after the game was announced in April 2022, Square Enix announced its cancellation in October of the same year. A very abrupt and direct announcement regarding a series that, 6 months prior, they were allegedly passionately working on. Though Square Enix and Blackjack developed assets for the game, the cancellation left some baffling moments between the two companies.

Revival

During the next two years, BlackJack began the development and push of the game Mecharashi. A mech game with strategy and RPG elements mixed in them. With a tactical turn-based system that was announced as a free-to-play game for multi-platforms, its visuals along with gameplay mechanics caught the attention of several fans who were excited for a new Front  Mission game.

Lawsuit

Once Square Enix caught wind of Mecharashi they filed a lawsuit stating the studio is utilizing gameplay assets given to them by the parent studio. They are claiming that in its current state, it’s the Front Mission game that Square initially wanted and canceled and that BlackJack took the remnants of the old IP to build this game on. They are pursuing that in its current state that game shouldn’t be released and to be released, they need to remove all the assets appearing Front Mission esc.  This of course includes visual designs, game mechanics such as targeting mechanics and mech breaking along with any other content that should have been protected under the Square license. They also want monetary compensation for infringement damages done by releasing this game on the Steam platform. BlackJack has filed a counterclaim against the company to fight back all the claims being made.

Mecharashi’s Response

Mecharashi publisher HK Ten Tree has stepped forward to address the issue, expressing a desire to resolve the matter amicably and apologizing for any concern and inconvenience caused to their users. In an official statement, HK Ten Tree acknowledged the lawsuit and emphasized its intention to "resolve this matter amicably." They also extended an apology to their users, recognizing the concern and inconvenience the situation has caused.

Observant Reddit users have noted that some of Mecharashi's allegedly copyrighted assets have been updated. Several icons and textures within the game have been redesigned, possibly as part of the publisher's efforts to address the issues raised in the lawsuit.

Despite these changes, the lawsuit remains a significant challenge for HK Ten Tree. According to reports, Square Enix has supplied US courts with 11 pages of comparative screenshots. These documents showcase the similarities between Mecharashi's assets and those owned by Square Enix, necessitating more dramatic changes from HK Ten Tree to satisfy the Final Fantasy publisher.

As of now, Mecharashi remains listed as 'Coming Soon' on Steam. The developers have been actively promoting the game via online blogs as recently as March 17, indicating their commitment to moving forward despite the legal hurdles.

The lawsuit between HK Ten Tree and Square Enix highlights the complexities of copyright issues in the gaming industry. As both parties seek a resolution, the future of Mecharashi may hang in balance. The coming weeks will be crucial in determining the game's fate and the publisher's ability to navigate the legal landscape.

Thoughts

As the gaming industry continues to evolve, the rise of IP copyright lawsuits will undoubtedly shape its future. Ensuring that legal frameworks adapt to the needs of all developers while promoting creativity and fair competition, will be crucial in maintaining a vibrant and dynamic gaming ecosystem. This case illustrates the complexities of IP copyright disputes. If a developer, BlackJack, is accused of using concepts and assets from a larger company, Square Enix, the situation becomes intricate. If BlackJack did indeed use Square's concepts and assets without authorization, Square's pursuit of legal action is understandable. However, if BlackJack developed these assets independently, the lawsuit would open a different set of challenges and questions about the legitimacy of the suit and the frequent and sometimes aggressive AAA studio responses to their smaller, growing counterparts.

For more topics like this, check out the GZ Chop Shop Gaming podcast.

We may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made using our links