Overview
- Unpacking, despite its acclaim, encountered numerous imitators on mobile platforms and the Nintendo eShop.
- These imitators repackaged Unpacking’s assets for mobile use and misrepresented themselves as official DLC on the eShop.
- The game presents a tranquil gameplay experience, narrating its story through the act of unpacking without the need for words, making it accessible to all gamers.
Witch Beam’s charming puzzle title, Unpacking, has recently been under siege from copycat games on the Nintendo eShop, a situation brought to light by co-creator Wren Brier just two weeks ago. Since its launch in 2021, Unpacking has garnered widespread acclaim, securing prestigious awards such as BAFTA’s EE Game of the Year and DICE’s Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game. It has also received recognition for its narrative depth, sound design, accessibility, animation, environmental artistry, and overall game design from various industry outlets.
With its success, it was inevitable that others would attempt to capitalize on the game’s unique concept. Almost instantly after its debut, Unpacking found itself overshadowed by a wave of copycats on mobile gaming platforms. Instead of enjoying the fruits of their labor after years of development, the dedicated team at Witch Beam was compelled to launch an offensive to protect their intellectual property. These imitators were unrepentant, often doing little more than reskinning Unpacking’s assets, saturating the market with ad-laden versions disguised as legitimate titles.
The blatant replicas eventually infiltrated the Nintendo eShop. On December 15, Wren Brier expressed his frustrations after reaching out to the gaming giant about these concerns two weeks earlier. In stark contrast to the ad-riddled free-to-play models seen on mobile, these Switch clones were offered for just a few dollars, creating unfair competition against Unpacking’s retail price of $19.99. The oldest of these copies appeared in late October, followed by four others in November, seemingly from the same publisher. They were misleadingly marketed as downloadable content (DLC), with titles designed to entice consumers, such as “Chill Music Pack” and “Haunting Locations.” As of the latest reports, these unauthorized copies no longer appear on the eShop.
Current Status of Unpacking’s Copycats
It’s been over two weeks and these are still on the eShop. Nintendo hasn’t responded to any of our reports of these egregious scams which are using our trademarked game name and purposely tricking Nintendo customers into buying cheap fakes.— Wren Brier (@wrenegade.bsky.social)2024-12-16T05:55:21.046Z
It’s demoralising for a small team like ours to see content we spent literally years planning, refining and handcrafting be hastily reproduced in an opportunistic ad-riddled app a mere 3 months after our launch. pic.twitter.com/vuPe58RP1e — Unpacking 📦 (@UnpackingALife) January 25, 2022
The innate charm of Unpacking is hard to overlook. The game’s journey began in early 2018, crafted by Wren Brier alongside her partner, Tim Dawson, co-director of Witch Beam. As the project progressed, additional team members joined to support its growth, eventually leading to Unpacking’s successful launch in 2021 through Humble Games. One of its key attractions lies in its simple yet soothing gameplay loop.
Unpacking guides players through the life of an unnamed protagonist, showcasing her journey over the years solely through her belongings. Starting in 1997, players unpack her items as she transitions between different residences, gaining insights into her character and experiences. Accompanied by a delightful soundtrack, the game’s wordless narrative makes it a highly approachable experience for players of all backgrounds.
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