The developer of the viral indie climbing game, Only Up!, has chosen to remove the title from the popular gaming platform, Steam. This decision comes after the developer faced allegations of using infringing assets and promoting NFTs, causing stress and prompting the desire to move on from the game. In a statement on the game’s Steam page, the developer expressed their need for peace of mind and healing.
Only Up! gained immense popularity on platforms like Twitch, where it attracted a large number of viewers who were captivated by its absurd difficulty. Players assumed the role of Jackie, a teenager from the projects with aspirations of escaping poverty. Inspired by the tale of “Jack and the Beanstalk,” the game challenged players to navigate intricate mazes of pipes and other objects that reached into the sky. Falling meant starting from scratch, but the game offered a time-slowing feature to assist with the more challenging leaps.
At its peak, Only Up! garnered up to 280,000 concurrent viewers on Twitch and accumulated 5.6 million views on a YouTube walkthrough by iShowSpeed (Darren Jason Watkins) within two months.
This isn’t the first time the game has been taken down. In late June, the developer delisted it due to alleged copyright violations. A 3D artist accused SCKR Games of using an unlicensed Sketchfab asset—a giant statue of a girl—for commercial purposes, despite the game’s $10 price tag. Only Up! made a comeback in early July, replacing the infringing statue with one depicting Atlas.
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SCKR Games, a one-person development team, plans to return with a new project. The developer intends to take a pause and continue their education in game design to acquire new experience and knowledge. Their next game, tentatively titled Kith, will be a departure from Only Up!, featuring realism and a completely different genre and setting. The emphasis will be on cinematography, and the developer hopes to assemble a small team for this ambitious project, aiming to improve their game design skills significantly.
In conclusion, the developer of Only Up! has chosen to delist the game from Steam amidst accusations of copyright infringement and NFT promotion. The overwhelming stress and desire for healing have prompted the decision to move on from the game. Only Up! gained popularity for its challenging gameplay and unique concept, attracting a substantial number of viewers on platforms like Twitch. However, this success was marred by allegations of copyright violations, leading to the game’s temporary removal. The developer plans to return with a new project, focusing on game design education and assembling a team for an ambitious and cinematic gaming experience.
