Fan-made GoldenEye 007 remake killed off following cease and desist request

[midian182]

What just happened? The fan-made attempt to recreate GoldenEye 007 in Unreal Engine 4 has come to an abrupt end after the IP holder sent out a cease and desist request. Creator Ben Colclough spent two years working on GoldenEye 25, which was set to launch in August 2022 in time for the original's 25th anniversary. Now, it appears the dream is over, but all is not lost.

For those lucky enough to have played the original, the promise of an updated GoldenEye 007 was an enticing prospect. There's already a version of the game's multiplayer called GoldenEye: Source, created in Valve's Source engine, that arrived in 2016, but GoldenEye 25 aimed to recreate the single-player campaign in Unreal Engine 4. What we saw of it last year looked very promising.

The devs actually cited GoldenEye: Source's long existence as a reason to be optimistic that the IP holder wouldn't object to the remake—they also made sure not to copy the original's music. Sadly, their hopes were dashed after MGM/Danjaq requested that they cease development of GoldenEye 25.

pic.twitter.com/AX04L3nPbC

— GoldenEye 25 (@007GoldenEye25) August 11, 2020

"This was always in the back of our heads as a possibility but we've tried our best to keep going. Of course we will comply and want to thank you for your ongoing support," read a post on the game's official Twitter account.

The demand doesn't mean all that work was for nothing. What's been created so far will be used to create a new title minus the GoldenEye name and James Bond characters. On the new Project Lantus account, Colclough notes that the change means it will be available on Steam, and console ports are a possibility.

No doubt you're wondering what's happened. We're not allowed to continue using the name GoldenEye or the James Bond characters. We'll take what we've made and create an original game. Unfortunate, but at least we can be on Steam now and console ports are possibilities.

— Project Ianus (@projectianus) August 11, 2020

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https://www.techspot.com/news/86325-fan-made-goldeneye-007-remake-killed-off-following.html

 

[Lionvibez]

Hate these IP holders (MGM/Danjag)

They have done nothing with the IP for 25 years. Just like patents eventually expire and become free domain the same should be done with IP for games after a god damn quarter century.

I regular play Goldeneye source and its alot of fun with some regulars been playing it for years.

When doing these projects its best to create in secret and keep quiet. Then make a big deal after you have released it on the internet then a C&D won't do anything at that point.

 

[fps4ever]

The world is a little safer now and lawyers a little richer.

 

[Lionvibez]

The world is a little safer now and lawyers a little richer.

haha yup get these immoral heathens and save the internet.

 

[Thanthan]

Well this is what happens when copyright law gets written by Walt Disney. In the 1800's the US had a liberal copyright law with IP's becoming public domain in relatively short order, but in came Disney. And ever since then when Mickey Mouse is about to enter public domain copyright law gets changed.

 

[Uncle Al]

In the immortal words of Julies Caesar ..... "Kill all the lawyers" ......

 

[GeforcerFX]

Hate these IP holders (MGM/Danjag)

They have done nothing with the IP for 25 years. Just like patents eventually expire and become free domain the same should be done with IP for games after a god damn quarter century.

I regular play Goldeneye source and its alot of fun with some regulars been playing it for years.

When doing these projects its best to create in secret and keep quiet. Then make a big deal after you have released it on the internet then a C&D won't do anything at that point.

The James Bond IP (which this falls under) is still actively used and produced.

 

[Lionvibez]

The James Bond IP (which this falls under) is still actively used and produced.

Really?

I still would have dropped it on the internet its not like he would have been selling copies its free. Then shut down the site and let them chase the freeware over the internet.

 

[sir cv0k]

In the immortal words of Julies Caesar ..... "Kill all the lawyers" ......

That's actually a quote from Shakespeare's "Henry VI" said by Dyck the Butcher.

 

[candle_86]

The issue is more than just mgm, Rare still owns the design which means Microsoft, Activision owns publishing rights to new James bond titles and MGM owns the overall franchise. MGM likely squashed it because Activision or Microsoft where not with it.