The creators of Paradise seem to be trying to take advantage of the excitement building up for the soon-to-be-released GTA VI next year to promote their own game. They say that their game merges aspects of Grand Theft Auto and The Sims, aiming to offer a fresh kind of open-world experience that is also free to play. Initially, the trailer looks quite impressive, catching the eye right away.
Investigation Reveals the Truth
Yet, just two months after the trailer's release, it has become apparent that Ultra Games Ltd.'s Paradise is little more than a massive imitation. An inquiry led by YouTuber Jetro and others has uncovered that numerous features shown in the trailer are just lifted from other games, either stolen or obtained through the Unreal Engine Assets Store. The game's website previously mentioned several influencers as partners in promotion, but these individuals had never heard of Paradise at all.
Doubts Over Existence of the Game
Although Paradise is already available on Steam, it remains uncertain if an actual game exists or if the trailer was just a fabrication. In the FAQ section, the developers try to clarify some controversies, like the address in Hong Kong linked to Ultra Games, which appears to be nonexistent. They claim the office is located elsewhere but won’t share the precise location. The unlicensed brands and vehicles featured in the trailer are said to not be included in the final product, according to their statement.
Cryptocurrency Connections
The motive for pretending to create a game is, not surprisingly, tied to cryptocurrency. ParadiseTap, abbreviated as $PAR, is currently being distributed through a smartphone app that can only be found on Telegram, avoiding traditional platforms like the Google Play Store. For this cryptocurrency to have worth, it must be used to buy items in the game, while also being exchangeable for real cash, with 100,000 $PAR amounting to about $500.
Ultra Games Ltd. has been selling this cryptocurrency for months now. The major twist is that while $PAR can be purchased with real money, it cannot be sold or transferred. The excitement around the game and the hope that the value of $PAR will skyrocket if the game actually launches is meant to drive demand for this seemingly worthless cryptocurrency, letting the developers profit without needing to finish an actual game.
Concerns Over Data Privacy
The team behind Ultra Games Ltd., partially based in Russia, still asserts they are developing the game for a 2025 release. However, even if it does come out, downloading it might not be wise, as Paradise is marketed to have anti-cheat software that has kernel access, which means the developers could potentially access users' personal data.
