Unpacking Dev Criticizes Nintendo Over Lack Of Action Against "Cheap Fakes" Sold On eShop

Browsing through digital storefronts can sometimes contain unnecessary junk, clutter, or fake games spoofing as licensed titles. While players can take these storefronts to task over the years, which has resulted in some action, Nintendo has come under fire from a developer for their lack of action against spoofed games.

Unpacking has become one of the most beloved independent releases over the last few years through its heartfelt narrative and themes reflecting life's changes through unpacking their possessions. Due to its critical success, this resulted in multiple spoofed "Unpacking" games appearing on the Nintendo eShop, which its developer Witch Beam has criticized Nintendo for.

Unpacking's creative director, Wren Brier, first posted to their Bluesky account on 28th November 2024, reposting another post that included an image of multiple spoofed "Unpacking" games on the Nintendo eShop. Brier commented, "It gets worse..." before adding a response on 16th December 2024 on the aforementioned platform.

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.

The enclosed image from Brier's post last month highlights the "Unpacking" cloned game from a developer, CGI LAB, which, as of writing, a listing for their game Unpacking Universe Dreams is still live and currently discounted on the Nintendo eShop. As for the other "Unpacking" spoofed games that were spotted in Brier's post, they may have been delisted or removed, which we cannot confirm, and according to a similar report from ComicBook, this spoofed game only appears on the Nintendo eShop.

As we continue to update this ongoing story with the latest developments, it's unclear if Nintendo took action against the fake "Unpacking games" in light of Brier's posts. Nintendo has previously been in "hot water" over the surge of fake games appearing on the eShop, as they removed games and their reported listings that cloned two games, Police Simulator: Patrol Duty and Naughty Dog's The Last of Us, which the latter caught Sony's attention (h/t Nintendo Life).