4d ago
Developer Barely Making Games announced on July 8 that it will complete the railway simulation game 'Retro Rail GO!', which had been under consideration for cancellation after widespread criticism of its similarity to Taito's 'Densha de GO!' series. The title has been changed to 'Retro Rail: Japan!', and the in-game UI and demo version have been updated. The developer stated it made the changes not because it yielded to criticism, but to maintain a healthy and safe development path. The core gameplay remains unchanged. The demo update removed all AI-generated placeholder assets and replaced them with artist-created works, switched the train horn sound to one more characteristic of Japanese trains, added station character sprites and crossing gate models, and fixed UI scaling for widescreen aspect ratios. The developer also emphasized that no copyrighted materials were used. The game is set in a fictional Japanese railway route with retro 3D graphics reminiscent of 1990s simulators. It will offer two modes: Casual mode with relaxed schedules and Professional mode with strict timetable adherence and two-step notch control. Early access release on PC via Steam is planned within 2026. A demo is currently available.
Jun 18
Barely Making Games, the developer of the retro-style train driving simulator 'Retro Rail GO!', has released a statement addressing accusations that the game is a rip-off of Taito's 'Densha de GO!' series. In a newsletter titled 'Sad news' published on June 18, the developer said they are seriously considering discontinuing development. The game, which features low-polygon graphics and a fictional Japanese-style route, gained attention during Steam Next Fest starting June 16, with wishlists growing from about 700 to roughly 2,000 in 48 hours. However, alongside positive reactions came criticism calling it a 'clone' or 'rip-off,' with some commenters hoping for legal action. The developer, who goes by GeneralMenezes and is based in Brazil, stated they grew up in a developing country and could not play many Japanese games due to price and language barriers. They said 'Retro Rail GO!' was intended as a nostalgic homage, not a copyright infringement, and aimed to provide an affordable, localized train driving experience for a global audience. Regarding AI-generated assets in the demo, the developer said they were placeholder images used to meet the Steam Next Fest deadline and that a professional artist has been commissioned for replacements. The developer concluded they lack resources to fight the accusations and potential legal issues, and will decide on canceling the project after the situation calms.