The Controversial Allegations of Plagiarizing Game Trailers
Zombie survival MMO The Day Before faces allegations of replicating trailers from other games, adding to previous accusations against developer Fntastic
Article Key Points
The Day Before, a soon-to-be-released MMO set in a zombie apocalypse, is currently under fire for allegations of plagiarism. The game is being accused of copying trailers from well-known open-world games such as Grand Theft Auto 5 and Red Dead Redemption.
The similarities go beyond the narration and also encompass similarities in script and visuals. Previous accusations of The Day Before copying trailers have occurred, including recreating shots from a Call of Duty: Black Ops trailer and using a thumbnail that closely resembled a screenshot from Tom Clancy's The Division.
The upcoming zombie apocalypse MMO, The Day Before, has been accused by a YouTuber of plagiarizing trailers from popular open-world games. This controversy is just one of many surrounding the development of The Day Before, and it is not the first time the game has faced allegations of plagiarism.
In 2021, developer Fntastic and publisher Mytona unveiled The Day Before, originally intending to release it in 2022. However, the game has encountered numerous delays, leading some to speculate whether it may never be released. Fntastic has also been caught up in a copyright dispute over the game's name, resulting in its removal from Steam. Additionally, the developer has had to defend itself against claims that The Day Before is a scam.
On November 1st, Fntastic unveiled the final trailer of The Day Before. However, the newly released video appeared oddly familiar to certain viewers. YouTuber Randomly recently created a video which compared The Day Before's latest advertisement with trailers for Rockstar Games' Grand Theft Auto 5, Red Dead Redemption 2, and CD Projekt Red's Cyberpunk 2077. Apart from sharing a similar-sounding narrator, the script of The Day Before's trailer closely resembled segments from other game trailers.
"The Day Before's open world is exceptionally crafted, showcasing stunning attention to detail," states a segment from the game's recent trailer. When compared randomly to a clip from a Grand Theft Auto 5 trailer, they both highlight the beauty, vastness, and diversity of their respective game worlds. Both trailers also emphasize the developers' reimagining of the open world concept.
As the video progresses, the resemblance between The Day Before's trailer and Red Dead Redemption 2's trailer becomes even more evident. Both trailers promise an immersive combat experience that is both intricate and captivating, along with the inclusion of weapons with distinct characteristics. Additionally, many of the visuals in the trailers bear a striking resemblance. For instance, a clip of Arthur Morgan firing a shotgun is followed by an almost identical shot of a character in The Day Before handling a rifle.
Finally, in a video by Randomly, two pairs of clips are played to compare the trailer of The Day Before with Cyberpunk 2077. The narrator in The Day Before's trailer introduces it as the next generation of post-apocalyptic MMO open-world survival games, urging viewers to immerse themselves in the game. On the other hand, Cyberpunk 2077's trailer concludes by welcoming the audience to the next generation of open-world adventure and encouraging them to immerse themselves in the game. Once again, both scenes are visually similar, featuring striking shots of the cities' skylines.
While it is possible that some of the similarities may be coincidental, Fntastic has faced accusations of copying other game trailers before. In February, The Day Before released a trailer that appeared to replicate shots from a Call of Duty: Black Ops trailer. Prior to that, there were observations that the thumbnail of a 2021 gameplay video closely resembled a 2015 screenshot from Tom Clancy's The Division. IGN also highlighted the similarities between The Day Before's logo and the logos used in The Last of Us games.
The Day Before
Survival, MMOPlatform(s) PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series SDeveloper(s) FntasticPublisher(s) MYTONGenre(s) Open-world, Zombie game.
Editor's P/S
As an enthusiastic fan, I feel deeply disappointed and frustrated by the recent allegations of plagiarism against The Day Before. The evidence presented in the video comparing the game's trailers to those of other popular titles is undeniable, and it paints a very concerning picture. If these allegations are true, it would represent a blatant disregard for the intellectual property of other developers and a betrayal of the trust of gamers who have been eagerly anticipating The Day Before.
The fact that this is not the first time Fntastic has been accused of plagiarism only adds to the disappointment. It suggests a pattern of behavior that is deeply troubling and raises serious questions about the integrity of the developer. If Fntastic truly wants to regain the trust of gamers, it needs to come clean about these allegations and take steps to ensure that they are not repeated in the future.
