Uncovering the Truth: Games Released One Day Earlier Seem to Mimic Each Other

Article Key Points

The Day Before has faced controversy throughout its development, including accusations of copying other games and a copyright dispute over its title.

The Day Before's latest trailer has been heavily criticized for plagiarizing scripts from several well-known games, including Red Dead Redemption 2, Grand Theft Auto 5, Cyberpunk 2077, Metal Gear Solid 5, The Last of Us, and The Division. These accusations of copying have sparked skepticism and raised concerns about the game's legitimacy, as the similarities between The Day Before and these other popular games are glaringly obvious.

After months of silence, developer Fntastic has finally released a new trailer for The Day Before. However, the newly revealed footage has only stirred up more controversy for the zombie MMO. Since its initial announcement in 2021, this project has been plagued by a turbulent development cycle and various disputes. The use of volunteers and a copyright infringement case surrounding the game's title have faced significant backlash. Additionally, The Day Before has been repeatedly accused of replicating other games, and this latest trailer appears to have once again imitated several prominent titles.

The Day Before Has a Record of Copying Other Games

Red Dead Redemption 2

The latest trailer for The Day Before closely mimics the scripts of previous announcement trailers, and one instance of blatant plagiarism in the new trailer is directly lifted from a Red Dead Redemption 2 trailer. When discussing the various weapons and shooting mechanics in The Day Before, the trailer asserts that the developers have ensured a combat experience that is "deep and engaging at all times" and that "each weapon possesses unique characteristics with realistic reload and recoil." These phrases are almost identical to the wording used in the script of the Red Dead Redemption 2 trailer.

Grand Theft Auto 5

Red Dead Redemption 2 is not the sole source of inspiration for The Day Before's new trailer, as evidenced by the identical voiceover from GTA 5 and the uncanny similarity in scripts. As far back as June, Fntastic unveiled a short teaser trailer featuring a sports car racing through the post-apocalyptic streets, a move that puzzled many due to the car's incongruity with the environment. Nevertheless, the unveiling of the trailer alongside a GTA 5 announcement now suggests a clear influence from this Rockstar property on Fntastic's creation.

Cyberpunk 2077

Once again, The Day Before's new trailer script concludes with dialogue directly borrowed from Cyberpunk 2077's trailer. The trailer finale urges players to "immerse yourself in The Day Before," mirroring the exact wording of Cyberpunk 2077's trailer, with the exception of the differing titles, of course. It's important to note that New Fortune City, the city in The Day Before, bears a striking resemblance to Cyberpunk 2077's Night City. While similarities in city names alone don't constitute plagiarism, the combination of the city name and the replicated script clearly indicates the influence.

Metal Gear Solid 5

This is merely a short moment showcased in The Day Before trailer, yet it is worth mentioning due to the striking similarities it shares. The trailer implies that the player embarks on their journey after being saved by survivors of the Woodbury Colony, followed by a glimpse of a doctor reviving the player character. However, this fleeting clip bears a strong resemblance to the prologue seen in Metal Gear Solid 5, where players are under the care of Dr. Constantinou. While it may be possible that this resemblance is merely a coincidence, considering the questionable track record of The Day Before, it is hard to dismiss the notion that it is not just a fortuitous accident.

The Last of Us

The Day Before faced one of the initial accusations surrounding its alleged similarity to other games. Soon after unveiling the first poster, observant individuals were quick to point out that the font used in the game's title resembled that of The Last of Us. This early controversy raised questions about The Day Before's potential for redemption. Given the immense success of The Last of Us as a prominent zombie-themed game in the modern gaming landscape, it is understandable that The Day Before drew inspiration from it. However, the decision to utilize the same font gives the impression that Fntastic, the studio behind the game, lacks confidence in its own product. It appears as if they relied on the popularity of other existing properties to attract attention.

The Division

Once again, the team behind The Day Before seems to have drawn inspiration from the well-known post-apocalyptic title, The Division. However, when comparing these two posters side by side, it becomes clear that Fntastic may be leveraging the popularity of other games to draw attention to their own project. While some accusations of copying could merely be coincidental, such as the similarities between the two doctors, it is hard to deny that the comparison between The Day Before and The Division highlights a blatant case of plagiarism.

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War

Not to be forgotten is Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War. In early 2023, The Day Before faced accusations of imitating Call of Duty, following their staggering shot-by-shot remake of the highly anticipated first-person shooter's Zombies mode trailer. This accusation was especially striking as it was undeniable that Fntastic replicated the entire Call of Duty trailer, capturing everything from the lighting to the shot angles. Both trailers are remarkably alike.

The Day Before has drawn significant inspiration from popular games, evident in its promotional materials such as posters and trailers. However, the game has faced multiple allegations of copying other games, leading to widespread doubt and even accusations of it being a scam. While coincidences can occur, the glaring similarities have become impossible to overlook, and Fntastic's latest trailer only further underscores this issue.

The Day Before

Platform(s) PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series SReleased December 7, 2023Developer(s) FntasticPublisher(s) MYTONAGenre(s) Open-World, Zombie

Editor's P/S

As a passionate gamer, I have mixed feelings about the recent controversy surrounding The Day Before. On the one hand, I am excited about the potential of the game and I hope that it will be a success. On the other hand, I am concerned about the accusations of plagiarism and the game's troubled development.

The accusations of plagiarism are particularly concerning, as they suggest that the developers may not be taking their work seriously. If the game is indeed a copy of other games, then it is likely to be a disappointment to fans. However, I am willing to give the developers the benefit of the doubt and hope that they will be able to address these concerns.

Overall, I am cautiously optimistic about The Day Before. I hope that the developers will be able to overcome the controversy and release a game that is both original and enjoyable.