Introduction

The 2023 edition of The Game Awards was packed with thrilling announcements and standout titles like The Witcher 4 and Elden Ring's Nightreign. Yet, amidst the excitement, there was a peculiar entry that turned heads for all the wrong reasons: Catly, an open-world game centered around cats, developed by a mysterious team named SuperAuthenti.

Immediate Backlash

As the reveal trailer aired, Catly faced immediate backlash, raising eyebrows and questions within the gaming community. Was this just the latest addition to a long list of titles that have turned to buzzwords like "AI-generated" and "NFT/Web3"? The trailer's visuals did little to reassure fans, as many criticized them for appearing amateurish, often labeling them as "AI-made slop." Such a reaction prompted an influx of dislikes and theories about its blockchain connections.

Analyzing the Trailer

Examining the trailer further, it does have some redeeming qualities—at least a minute long, suggesting some semblance of effort—yet the frequent cuts and abrupt scene changes gave rise to speculation that perhaps AI tools were involved in its creation. In a rapidly evolving landscape of technology, AI-generated footage can often look deceptively polished.

Scrutiny of Game's Web Presence

Criticism didn't stop at the trailer. The game's Steam page and official website were scrutinized, with some content appearing bizarrely disjointed. Descriptions looked pieced together, almost as if generated by a struggling AI, with claims that the game would feature "Chic" and "Style" collections that felt oddly generic. Is this what the future of gaming could look like?

Connecting the Dots

Delving deeper into Catly's origins, Reddit user Nat-Chem unearthed several connections that have caused quite a stir. The Co-Founder of SuperAuthenti, Kevin Yeung, has a backstory entwined closely with blockchain gaming—specifically his involvement in TenthPlanet, which created Mech Angel featuring NFTs, and intriguingly, Alien Meow, described as a digital cat metaverse project that is suspiciously similar to Catly.

SuperAuthenti's Background

SuperAuthenti, once operating under the name Shanghai Binmao Technology, also had a hand in a dual-purpose blockchain app called Plantly: Mindful Gardening, which has since vanished from the internet. Developer Yingzi Kong’s resume purportedly connects him to working on Catly during its initial stages at Binmao Technology—increasing the web of intrigue surrounding this title.

The Smoking Gun

The smoking gun linking all this together may lie with Chinese data repository Qichacha, which reveals SuperAuthenti as the sole shareholder of Shanghai Binmao Technology. This connection fuels the theory that Catly could indeed be a Web3 venture veering towards a potential scam. Still, the pressing question remains: how in the world did this project earn a spot at The Game Awards?

Conclusion and Cautionary Tale

With this narrative unfolding, Catly stands as a cautionary tale in the gaming industry. As the lines between creativity and technology blur, players must stay vigilant against projects that ride the hype of AI and blockchain without delivering on substance. Will Catly be a legitimate triumph for cat lovers or yet another casualty of the gaming industry’s latest trends? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain—gamer skepticism is at an all-time high. Stay tuned for more updates on this evolving situation!