Summary
You might’ve noticed a strange, vaguelyGTA-looking game skyrocketing up theSteamwishlist charts this week. Ultra Games proudly claims that its debut release, Paradise, is “the most realistic world simulation powered by AI”, and will even feature supposed appearances from popular streamers likePokimaneand Ninja, but skeptics say that it’s little more than a “pump and dump scam”.
You’ll also be able to speak with any NPC in the game thanks to the “power of AI”, with unending lifeless responses that mean nothing.
As reported byRock Paper Shotgun, all the GTA motifs are there. It’s a third-person open world where you drive sports cars, get into shootouts, and build a criminal empire to hoard as much wealth as possible. But there are a few caveats. While it has been downplayed in more recent trailers, and with mentions now axed from the Steam pagedue to the platform’s policy, Paradise first promised that you’d be able to “earn money and crypto”, utilising a currency called $PAR that you could invest in via a dedicated third-party app.
Ultra Games also claims to be based in Hong Kong, but YouTuber Jetro uncovered that the listed address was fake, and that they appear to be based in Tbilisi, Georgia,a city known for crypto “scammers”. Many were quick then to label Paradise as a “literal crypto scam”, sparkingUltra Games to put out a statementin which they claimed that it"will not include cryptocurrency", denouncing the accusation as “false and unfounded”. However, when Paradise was delisted on the Epic Games Store, it resurfaced under the new nameParadise XRPL, with the explicit confirmation that “This is a Blockchain/NFT Game”.
False Address, Using GTA 5’s Minimap, And Even Risking Your PC’s Security: This Paradise Might Just Be An Oasis
There are far more glaring red flags than just the crypto, blockchain, and NFT controversies, however. Paradise openly uses GTA 5’s minimap, which the developer defended by arguing that Rockstar’s map “is based on the real layout of Los Angeles, which is not intellectual property.”
On top of that, none of the popular influencers, who you’ll apparently be able to interact with AI versions of, have said anything about the game publicly in the run-up to its launch. In fact, Paradise’s website now states that “not all contracts were finalized”. This is despite a trailer from six months ago stating that you’ll be able to “play and talk with avatars of real influencers”, with Ali-A, Lachlan, Loserfruit, and more flashing on screen.
Paradise also used the same song and motto as the fan-run GTA Online RP server “Paradise Roleplay”.
The unending trail of lies and seedy crypto underbelly has done little to dissuade onlookers, as Paradise has amassed over 30,000 followers — more thanFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth. As RPS broke down, that could translate to as many as 150,000 wishlists, though it’s worth noting that many of these could be bots or sock puppets, rather than legitimate accounts.
If you’re one of these, however, Jetro has a pertinent warning: don’t download the game. They noted that Paradise uses kernel-level anti-cheat, which they explain “will give the developer full access to everything on your PC”. While legitimate games such asValoranthave done the same, the sheer amount of access such software gives developers to your PC warrants concerns in the case of a game with as many red flags as this, andwe’ve seen a couple of malware games crop up on Valve’s platform in the last few months alone, so it’s not without precedent.
It launches in early access today, but even with the buzz it’s getting, Paradise isn’t worth the risk. You’re better off sucking it up and waiting for GTA 6 to release.
