Summary
- Paradise, a GTA-like “Blockchain/NFT Game” from developer Ultra Games, has come under fire as a “pump and dump scam”.
- The AI-driven life sim uses the same minimap as Grand Theft Auto 5, falsely claimed streamers like Pokimane and Ninja would appear, and even seems to have copied a community-run RP server.
- Despite this, it has become one of the most-wishlisted Steam games in April. But YouTuber Jetro warns that its anti-cheat “will give the developer full access to everything on your PC”.
You might’ve noticed a strange, vaguely GTA-looking game has been skyrocketing up the Steam wishlist charts. 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 like Pokimane and 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 by Rock 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 page due to the platform’s policy, Paradise initially 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.
Many were quick to label Paradise as a “literal crypto scam”, sparking Ultra Games to put out a statement in 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 name Paradise XRPL, with the explicit confirmation that “This is a Blockchain/NFT Game”.
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”.
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 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”.
Yet this unending trail of lies and the seedy crypto underbelly has done little to dissuade onlookers, as Paradise has amassed over 30,000 followers — more than Final 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 as Valorant have 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, and we’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.
Despite 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.
