according to prey Director Rafael Corantonio, Akane Studio forced Bethesda Use this name even if he doesn’t want to.
If you haven’t heard of Prey, it was first released in 2017, which isn’t surprising given that it didn’t perform well (though it’s one of Arkane’s best games). A game called Prey was also released in 2006, produced by Human Head Studios, and Bethesda owns the intellectual property for the game. So even though the most recent title has nothing to do with the original, it uses that name, and according to a recent interview with the director of Prey 2017, whoever Arkane decided to use the name didn’t.
“Calling Prey Prey, it’s very, very hurtful to me. I don’t want to call this game Prey, I have to say in front of reporters that I want to no matter what,” Colantonio said on the AIAS Game Maker’s Notebook podcast (thanks, little extension). “When you tell this artist: ‘Do you know your game? It’s going to be called Prey, it’s insulting to have a little artistic, creative side.’ You’re like, ‘I don’t think it should be done. I think This is a mistake.'”
Even with some brand recognition, calling the game Prey doesn’t do the game any favors.Fans of the original don’t like the fact that the new version is completely different from the original, and those who don’t “don’t even look for it” [the] games,” which Corantonio called a “sell error.”
“This is also a blow to the original makers of Prey. I want to apologize to them many, many times. I really didn’t have a chance because I didn’t really know those people. It was never our intention” to steal their knowledge property and become ours. It’s disgusting and it’s not what I want to do. “
Prey was generally well-received by critics and fans who did play it when it was released, but it didn’t perform well enough to warrant a follow-up of any kind.
A few years ago, the indie game Praey for the Gods had to change its name (initially using Prey instead of Praey) due to a trademark dispute filed by Bethesda.
