Following its initial reveal and the subsequent early access rollout late last year, Bully Online—an ambitious fan-made multiplayer mod—has officially ceased development. The project’s lifespan lasted only a month, fulfilling the community’s grim predictions regarding its longevity under the watchful eye of rights holders.
The shutdown was widely anticipated, primarily because the developers implemented a paid subscription model, providing Take-Two with clear grounds for a DMCA claim. SWEGTA, the project’s figurehead, noted that the publisher did not cite a specific violation but rather issued a comprehensive list of requirements for fan modifications to remain compliant. He contended that Bully Online could not have survived even as a free release, though the specific details of Take-Two’s demands remain private as the correspondence has not been made public.
The team has also firmly denied allegations that the project was a financial ruse, maintaining that all funds collected from the player base have been fully refunded.
While Fat Pigeon Development is moving on to focus on original concepts, the work done on Bully Online won’t vanish entirely. The developers have released the complete source code to the public, allowing other enthusiasts to pick up where they left off and continue the project’s legacy.
In a curious turn of events, the English website for a similar project, Bully Multiplayer, has gone offline. However, this disappearance appears to be localized; the Russian version of the site and the project’s ModDB profile remain fully operational.
Source: gta.com.ua