The indie horror game The Backrooms 1998 has allegedly been stolen and resold under a different name on the Nintendo eShop, PlayStation Store, and Xbox Store.
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| The Backrooms 1998 Gets Stolen, Developer Says Game is Being Resold on Nintendo eShop |
The gaming community is in shock after Steelkrill Studio, the developer of The Backrooms 1998, revealed that their game has been illegally copied and resold on major gaming platforms. The alleged stolen version, titled Backrooms Horror Escape, is nearly identical to the original, raising serious concerns about game piracy and platform security.
How Was The Backrooms 1998 Stolen?
According to Steelkrill Studio, a company called COOL DEVS S.R.L allegedly decompiled their game, made minor changes, and re-released it under a new name. The stolen version, Backrooms Horror Escape, appeared on the Nintendo eShop, PlayStation Store, and Xbox Store without the original developer's permission.
The game’s core assets—including sound effects, voice lines, music, and mechanics—reportedly remained untouched, with only slight modifications to elements like the monster design and promotional images. Essentially, it’s the same game, but under a new name and sold by a different company.
Steelkrill Studio took to Reddit to express their frustration, stating:
"They stole the whole game, including the music, sounds, voice lines—everything. They only changed the monster and the picture on the frame."
The developer also shared side-by-side comparisons of the two versions, highlighting the striking similarities.
How Did Nintendo and Other Platforms React?
After the developer filed DMCA takedown notices, both Sony (PlayStation Store) and Microsoft (Xbox Store) responded by removing the stolen version from their platforms. However, Nintendo has yet to take action, and Backrooms Horror Escape remains available on the Nintendo eShop at the time of writing.
Steelkrill Studio expressed their disappointment, saying:
"Nintendo claims to be looking into it, but it's obvious that the game was stolen. How can they allow this?"
A big scam company just stole my WHOLE game from steam, ripped it and sold it as their own on Playstation and other consoles.
— Steelkrill 🔪🦐 | Horror Game Dev (@steelkrill) February 27, 2025
More details in the thread to hopefully prevent both other developers and people from getting scammed 🧵 (1/10) pic.twitter.com/53ib17dSzr
This situation has raised questions about how strict Nintendo’s approval process is and whether indie developers are getting enough protection against theft.
What is The Backrooms 1998?
The Backrooms 1998 is a first-person psychological horror game inspired by the popular Backrooms creepypasta. Players explore eerie, maze-like environments filled with unsettling entities while solving puzzles and uncovering hidden secrets. The game uses a found-footage style to create a terrifying and immersive experience, making it a hit among horror fans.
Steelkrill Studio worked hard to craft a unique horror experience, but now, it appears that someone else is taking credit for their work.
Well, the current situation with The Backrooms 1998 is a huge blow to indie developers, who already struggle to compete with big-budget studios. If a game can be stolen, slightly modified, and resold under a new name, it sets a dangerous precedent for the industry.
Indie creators rely on digital platforms to distribute their games, but this case shows that even major storefronts aren’t foolproof when it comes to preventing piracy. Many players are now calling for stronger security measures to protect indie developers from these kinds of scams.
In summary, Steelkrill Studio is currently exploring legal options to take down the stolen game and hold the responsible party accountable.
They are also waiting to see whether Nintendo takes action and whether digital storefronts improve their policies to prevent similar cases in the future.