NetEase “Project M” Causes Controversy
Project M, a new title release from NetEase, appears alarmingly identical to Valorant, a tactical shooting game from Riot Games. This startling resemblance has sparked outrage on the web. Many players are criticizing NetEase for “ripping off” Valorant within hours of its official unveiling.
For the last year, Valorant has unquestionably become one of the most popular games among competitive shooting games. Thanks to its distinctive and exciting gameplay mechanics, the game managed to earn millions of fans around the world when it was first launched in June 2020.
The Controversy
NetEase is a Chinese web and gaming company that competes with Tencent, the parent company of Riot Games. It’s clear from the first look at the teaser for ‘Project M’ that it was strongly influenced by Valorant. Valorant was originally known as ‘Project A’ when it was being developed.
- The firearms exhibited in the promo video are not only very close to those in Valorant, but the skills demonstrated also have a lot in common with the agents’ kits in Valorant.
This is Project M, a new mobile game from NetEase.
Looks… familiar… pic.twitter.com/HF4dz5fkbh
— Valorant News (@ValorINTEL) August 4, 2021
- The idea that Valorant agents can utilize diverse “abilities” to grant them an advantage in battle set it apart from most other shooting games. NetEase, on the other hand, appears to have taken the same approach by bringing ‘Project M’ to mobile platforms.
- Although Riot has yet to announce a launch schedule for the mobile edition of Valorant, NetEase may be aiming to take advantage of the situation by launching their game well before the eagerly awaited debut of Valorant mobile.
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JC Paredes
Since March 2021, I've worn two hats at Spiel Times: a writer and a Managing Editor. In my writing role, I've earned recognition from Wikipedia and Nev Schulman (Catfish TV Show host) for my insightful analysis and engaging narrative style. I'm passionate about all things gaming, with a keen eye for detail and a knack for uncovering hidden secrets within games. My gaming journey began at a young age, captivated by titles like Resident Evil and Tomb Raider. Today, I enjoy exploring open-world RPGs and MMORPGs, consumed by their lore and crafting theories about their narratives. I'm also drawn to the suspenseful atmosphere of horror games and the intricate narratives of crime-themed titles, bringing a unique perspective to my writing. Beyond gaming, I have a fascination with anything unexplained and chilling, a passion that often spills over into my exploration of horror games. When I'm not engrossed in a virtual world, you can find me curled up and spending time with my adorable doggy sidekick, Teemo. As Managing Editor, I'm committed to fostering a collaborative and supportive environment for our writing team. I communicate openly with my team members, addressing any content-related issues and providing guidance to help them excel.
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