I'm a dev who has been working on my game for 2 years and my game title got stolen on Steam and they plan to release before I do. What should I do?

Submitted ⁨⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago⁩ by ⁨Road_Warrior_10@lemmy.world⁩ to ⁨games@lemmy.world⁩

I have been working for over 2 years on my game and 4 months ago I finally released my demo. Yesterday, while searching on Steam I found a game with EXACTLY the same title and very similar premise. The page was created in May or June 2026 and they aim to release in August 2026. Here are some of descriptions I use on my Steam page:

A first-person psychological thriller with a heavy atmosphere and elements of liminal horror.
Uncover the stories of your subjects by studying their personal items and darkest secrets before making life-or-death choices.
Will you sacrifice your own beliefs to obey HIS authority?

For comparison here is how they describe their game:

“Will you obey orders, or resist? In this first-person psychological horror game, you sit across from subjects and must investigate evidence to determine who is telling the truth, and decide their fate.”

My game is planned to release in October or whenever it’s completely playtested and polished. I’m not sure what I can do as this has never happened before, what do you think is my best course of action here?

For reference my game: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2719670/The_Milgram_Experiment

And the copy: https://store.steampowered.com/app/4777470/The_Milgram_Experiment/

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rtxn@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
It’s been adjudicated before: you can’t. It’s the reason PUBG and Fortnite can coexist even though Epic completely ripped off PUBG after helping develop the game. It’s also why the “DOOM clone” genre was allowed to proliferate into the FPS genre, why there are so many FNAF-inspired games, and why Nintendo recently lost one of its Pokémon patents. You don’t own the concept of the Milgram experiment, you don’t own the trademark for the name, and the overall gameplay concept is not subject to copyright. Unless you can prove that the other developer stole code or art assets from you, or that it violated a trademark or patent that you own, there’s nothing you can do but hope that the better product wins in the end.

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- Fizz@lemmy.nz ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
  how is fortnite a rip off of pubg? That was one of the dumbest lawsuits ever I cant believe people actually repeat that bs.
  
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  - rtxn@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
    During development, PUBG’s developers worked closely with Epic for technical support of the Unreal Engine. At the time, Epic was developing a multiplayer sandbox game that focused on building fortifications and area defense. It was a little-known title called Fortnite.
    
    PUBG launched into early access in March of 2017 and was an immediate massive success. Only half a year later, Epic launched Fortnite Battle Royale, which was a massive departure from the original Fortnite concept. It had the same genre as PUBG, it had the same game rules, the gameplay was nearly identical; and it retained barely anything from the original core gameplay loop of fortification-building. You’d have to be willfully ignorant on the level of flat earthers to think it’s all just an innocent coincidence.
    
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  - d00ery@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
    Third person battle royale. Having only ever seen videos of Fortnite the difference is primarily art style.
    
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  - valar@lemmy.ca ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
    It’s the same game…
    
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  - GeneralEmergency@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
    Because Epic bad
    
    That’s about as much thought these G*mers have.
    
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one_old_coder@piefed.social ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
I guess it’s too late to change the name of the game, but when you think about it, the “clone” is a shitty game that won’t get a lot of downloads if any. I’m only a gamer, but your whole Steam page is way more enticing.

You could create a small website with links to the Steam page (and Bluesky and Twitter…) as a reference. The other guy won’t waste more time on his project. I saw your Posts history on Lemmy, and you have a lot of upvotes and conversations about that game, it’s something that the clone guy cannot reproduce easily, he would be roasted very fast if he tried that.

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- Road_Warrior_10@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
  Thank you for the kind words! Do you mean too late for me to change the name?
  
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  - one_old_coder@piefed.social ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
    Yes, too late to change the name, but it’s a stupid idea, you have way more momentum and hype than the other guy. Don’t bother about him.
    
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Stern@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
You named your game after a well known psychological experiment and now you’re surprised someone else used the name and generalized gameplay related to said experiment? Not trying to be that guy but brother, what were you expecting? Did you have another in the tank called The Stanford Prison Experiment? The Rorschach Test maybe? Kinda comes with the territory I would think.

But for real, just call it Milgram. Conveys the same thing, no crossover with duplicate, I think it would show up first in a search on steam as well.

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- Road_Warrior_10@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
  I guess I am upset that they didn’t check if the name is taken or not. When I create a new project (this is my 4th game) I always check for same name. Because even if it’s technically legal it’s not beneficial for both sides to have one game mistaken for the other
  
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SkunkWorkz@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
Unless you trademark the title you can’t do anything about it. And an international trademark cost a lot of money.

I wouldn’t worry too much about it. The copy doesn’t look like a game that can compete. It looks very barebones. The Steam algorithm will bury this game because it won’t sell. You probably gave this game more publicity than it ever got before. Just focus on your own game the more wishlists you get the more the algorithm will push your game to customers and they will never see the copy.

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- Road_Warrior_10@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
  Thank you! Yeah I’m not sure my name can be trademarked, but just not worth the money spent. However I assumed Steam had a system that prevented using the exact same title
  
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  - ober@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
    Unfortunately not. Just look up “SCP Containment Breach” or even just “SCP” on Steam and you’ll see a whole mess of duplicates.
    
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Sharkticon@lemmy.zip ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
I’m certainly sorry for your troubles but I’m not really seeing anything here compelling as to the idea of them purposely stealing something from you. It’s two games based on an actual scientific experiment. So of course the name is going to be the same cuz the name is based on the experiment. Of course the descriptions going to be similar because you’re describing the same experiment. The games themselves seem different enough that I have trouble believing you could convince anyone of theft here, particularly anyone at Steam.

There are a lot of games out there that are very similar. It’s just the nature of the thing. I agree with some other comments in here I think your best choice is to just change the name, maybe to something a little bit more memorable and original and rely on the fact that your product does look better. Certainly file an official Complaint if you feel it necessary, but I wouldn’t get your hopes up.

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- Road_Warrior_10@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
  Thanks for your opinion and honesty!
  
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DarrinBrunner@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
You’ll need to add onto your tile, to distinguish it from the rip-off version, so people know.

And, doing what you’re doing here, getting the word out.

You’ll be fine.

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- Road_Warrior_10@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
  Thank you
  
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alakey@piefed.social ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
You didn’t come up with the name and it’s perfectly realistic to imagine more than 1 person coming up with a similar idea based on the same concept. Even if someone “stole” your idea - do it better than them and you’ll have nothing to worry about. I’d be more understanding of your concern if a big AAA studio happened to make this release so close to yours, but even then not much you can do due to aforementioned reasons. And while Steam lets you use any name you want, even if it’s already taken, it will put your game first on the search list if more people interact with it, which will naturally happen if your game is good.

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bryndos@fedia.io ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
https://steamcommunity.com/dmca/create

But be warned that it might tie up both games in bureaucracy.
You might hope that steam has the timestamps readily available to prove the sequence of events - though I'm a bit skeptical of cloud storage about that stuff. So you might want your own evidence from your own storage.

It'd be good to try to find someone who has gone through it on steam, and of course a lawyer, if you can afford it.

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- Road_Warrior_10@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
  Hello, I think it’s too early for lawyers and also… way too expensive
  
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borth@sh.itjust.works ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
I wish listed your game, I’ve been following it for some time, looks a lot better than the copy. I don’t think that copy will sell as much, and if you keep promoting and talking about it the way you already are, I think it’d be clear which one is the rip off.

I think it’d be a good idea to give keys to some streamers to show the game. I might tell a few steamers to stream this, it seems like it would be fun to do this with an audience.

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- Road_Warrior_10@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
  Yeah, thank you! I am already sending my demo to streamers and of course when the full game is out I will send keys too
  
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Treczoks@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
Happened to bigger outfits. There is this board game “Settlers of Catan”, which should have been “Settlers” originally, until a computer game of that name got released just before they launched.

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- HubertManne@piefed.social ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
  I never knew that. It was such a mainstay with fen and I have played it so much.
  
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Nioxic@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
Make it easy on yourself

Find a new name for your game

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- DannyMac@sh.itjust.works ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
  “The Millgram Experiment: The Best One”
  
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  - rustydrd@sh.itjust.works ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
    The Milgram Experiment 2: Electric (Shock) Boogaloo
    
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stegosaur@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
Yours looks way better, one small criticism that may be easy to adjust but could also just be the visual style you want: most surfaces look way too glossy and reflective.

While it’s nice to have detailed reflections, things like the wall tiles just seem nearly like mirrors when it comes to light reflections. There’s no diffusion. Maybe the face masks could stay as glossy, but I would diffuse/dull the rest a bit. The ceramic tile but especially the padded room. Padded room tiles would be fabric so there really shouldn’t be any gloss and very little reflection.

I hope you don’t take that the wrong way, and I think your game will stand out as far superior to the copy

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tanisnikana@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
I added yours to my wishlist, though I don’t intend to play it cause horror doesn’t sit well with me on account of how I’m a giant wuss but I still support artists, and I put theirs on my ignore list.

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- Road_Warrior_10@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
  Thank you! The game is not traditional horror with jumpscares and stuff, I think you will like it. : )
  
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daniskarma@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
They may have done you a favour. The name just being the name of a famous experiment is not very SEO friendly. The less of your troubles is another game having the same name, you have thousands of references to that experiment to compete with for name placement.

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j4yc33@piefed.social ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
I have played the demo for your game, and while I don’t know if you can fight this, you’ll deffo be getting at least one sale!

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lankydryness@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
I wish listed yours so hopefully that helps the algorithm a tiny little bit

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- Road_Warrior_10@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
  Oh wow! Thank you!
  
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SynonymousStoat@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
You could maybe make a trademark complaint against them if you have been using the name of your game publically before they have, which from your steam page already existing I would assume you’ve been using it publicly for at least a little while now. As to how you would go about making such a complaint, I don’t know what to do other than talking with a lawyer if Steam doesn’t have any sort of option. This all assumes you live in the USA, if you’re in another country different options may or may not exist.

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- insomniac_lemon@lemmy.cafe ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
  Not a lawyer, but if you put the name into wikipedia it redirects to the historical event both games are based on. It’s a generic name, I can’t imagine a side being picked here (both change or neither change).
  
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- SkunkWorkz@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
  But that requires trademarking the name. Unlike copyright you don’t get that for free by law it cost a ton of money to get an international trademark.
  
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  - SynonymousStoat@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
    In the US you have some protections automatically just by using the name publically. Of course you’d have a much stronger case if you have it registered, but I have a feeling with a name this specific it would be a little easier especially given that the product is incredibly similar as well. Technically the trademark could still be registered and you may even have to provide evidence that you were using the name at an earlier date, which the steam page would help a lot with.
    
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- toofpic@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
  The trademark question is the strongest - the name can absolutely be protected, especially if there are multiple timestamps everywhere (you posting about it, git, steam, your assets with the game’s name, whatever).
  If your game was in some developer’s area on Steam for a long time, just go and write to them right now, explaining the stolen name situation. If it’s not like this, the name issue can be resolved in court in your favour, and you have a case.
  But speaking of the game mechanics, story, or anything like that, it’s hard or impossible to prove anything, so you can only rely on your game being better and attracting more people. You do what you do, and the “thief” will give up eventually
  
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  - Road_Warrior_10@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
    Thank you! Yeah I don’t think I have the right to complain about similar gameplay. Let them do what they do, It was just interesting how similar it sounds, but having the exact same name is a problem. I was just in an indie fest and someone might see my trailer but then find their game instead. This is the part that I don’t like
    
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- Road_Warrior_10@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
  I love in Europe and the other guy, by his accent in his game trailer is in the USA
  
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  - SynonymousStoat@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
    I don’t like assuming everyone lives in the USA, but it’s laws are the only ones I have had any real exposure to. Sorry my advice isn’t more helpful.
    
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EmpathicVagrant@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
All I know is yours actually looks good. Theirs feels like one of those minis where it has 1/10th the heart and the whole fascist democracy ‘be a good citizen’ thing in theirs is trying to tap into something helldivers made popular for a surge and didn’t even do well. I’ll be getting your game when it drops if I can, but theirs isn’t interesting.

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- classic@fedia.io ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
  fr. the difference in quality is stark
  
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- Road_Warrior_10@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
  Wow, thank you for the support! Yes, I mean I’ve been thinking about my game’s premise for like 3 years, created a prototype and steam page 2 years ago and the demo dropped early this year. Hell, I’m still writing the script and re-writing the story even now. I’m just bummer that some people might search for the game if they found my trailer on some festival or something and then have this one show up…
  
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SleeplessCityLights@programming.dev ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
I had no idea two steam apps could have the same name. It does make sense though, you pay for an app for every prototype and not all prototypes make it to development. There would be a lot of wasted names. I wonder that if you apply for an IARC rating first, it will block them. Dm me if you want to know the no cost, zero effort way to do it.

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- SleeplessCityLights@programming.dev ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
  Shit, I forgot part of it costs money.
  
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pasdechance@jlai.lu ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
Your game looks considerably better.

I would not want my work to be confused with another’s.

Even so, a non-litigious option is to contact the dev to propose a bundle.

The “Experiments” Bundle?

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frank@sopuli.xyz ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
Let me just say your game looks awesome and I look forward to its release.

I think you should report it to steam, you’ve surely had a page with that name for longer. I wouldn’t change your game name now

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- Road_Warrior_10@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
  Thank you! Yeah I’ve just found out and I am trying to think about the situation from all POVs. I haven’t contacted Steam or the dev yet… I will update if I do
  
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Janx@piefed.social ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
Not a dev or lawyer, zero experience. But don’t undervalue word-of-mouth! That’s something they can never copy. Sure, some people might buy the asset flips/copies, but hopefully they’ll get refunds. But if your game is popular and liked and well-reviewed, and supported, it’ll drown out the noise and rise above it all… Good luck!

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- Road_Warrior_10@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
  Thank you so much!
  
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myster0n@feddit.nl ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
Maybe you can rename your game to something like “Obey him : The Milgram Experiment”. Not the other way round because then it looks like a sequel to the other game

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daggermoon@piefed.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
I’m excited to play your game, not some shitty clone. I’ve seen this happen with another indie horror game that I can’t remember the name of. I don’t have a solution unfortunately. As long as yours comes up first in search than you shouldn’t have anything to worry about anyway.

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- Road_Warrior_10@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
  Thank you for the kind words and the support : )
  
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eleijeep@piefed.social ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
See if anyone else in the game dev community has experienced this kind of thing before. If it turns out to be a consistent problem then you could try to get a games journalist involved and see if they will write a story. In order to get anything done about it, you have to make enough noise that it comes to the attention of the people who can actually effect a change.

I’m not sure what the solution is though, because when the base concept is already in the public domain, it’s probably something that happens sometimes through pure coincidence. Like the ant movies. Steam would have to have a set of criteria by which they judge if someone is doing it deliberately and maliciously in order to classify it as fraud or impersonation. If it’s a big enough problem and happens regularly, maybe they would consider it though.

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LouNeko@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
I’m surprised that it’s allowed to have 2 games with the same name on steam (I guess their Steam IDs aee different). I wonder how steam handles their directories in the /steams/common folder if they have the same root folder name.

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- mushroommunk@lemmy.today ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
  It’s been a while since I looked in there but aren’t the games installed under a folder with their Steam ID as the title?
  
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  - LouNeko@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
    I know that Savegames and Workshop Mods are, but games usually have their main directory named after whatever the devs decided to name them.
    
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- Die4Ever@retrolemmy.com ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
  I believe it appends the Steam ID number to the folder name when there’s a conflict
  
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Tollana1234567@lemmy.today ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
are you not able to claim copyright by contacting steam?

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- Road_Warrior_10@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
  I am not sure, waiting for their response
  
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