Few video game companies have had as much of an impact as Rockstar. Throughout the years it has never been afraid to court controversy, and its games are known for their attention to detail. Many of its franchises, such as Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption, have become staples. However, there is also a graveyard of forgotten Rockstar franchises that include Midnight Club, Manhunt, and Bully.
Plenty of gamers have been particularly disheartened by the lack of attention Rockstar has paid to Bully. Taking place in the fictional school of Bullworth Academy, it follows Jimmy as he navigates a relatable social scene filled with cliques. Jimmy attempts to shake up the school's hierarchy and put a stop to bullies' reigns of terror. Although it has seemed like Bully would never be resurrected, recent actions by Rockstar offer a little more room for optimism.
Rockstar Is Embracing Remakes and Remasters
In recent years, Rockstar has been churning out many remakes of its classic games. Take-Two Interactive's quarterly report in August 2021 revealed that the company planned to release nine new iterations of previously released titles. In November 2021, Rockstar released Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition, a remaster of GTA 3, GTA: Vice City, and GTA: San Andreas. The trilogy received a lukewarm response, and while Grand Theft Auto fans were happy to revisit generation-defining title, many complained of technical glitches and below-expected quality.
GTA 5 was originally released in 2013, and it received its first remaster in 2014. In 2022, Rockstar released yet another port of GTA 5 for current-generation consoles, taking advantage of the superior technology to offer higher frame rates, better resolution, and faster loading times. GTA 5's PS5 and Xbox Series X remaster was received better than the GTA Trilogy. Although the degree to which Rockstar has managed to polish an eight-year-old game is impressive, many believe GTA 5 has been milked enough, and the studio should be focused on GTA 6 instead.
Rockstar is not done blowing the dust off its old franchises. In April 2022, Remedy announced that it had entered an agreement with Rockstar to develop Max Payne 1 and 2 remakes. The Max Payne series, which began in 2001, embraces a neo-noir atmosphere around its titular detective, and is notable for introducing a bullet-time mechanic that so many modern titles have emulated. Although a release date for these games has yet to be revealed, Remedy has confirmed they will be available on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
Rockstar's focus on remakes and remasters opens the possibility that Bully may be the next title resurrected. Although the story Bully tells is one that has stood the test of time, its controls, visuals, and mechanics are more dated. A good remaster could fix these issues and ensure that a new generation can experience the chaotic, charming world of Bullworth Academy.
Rockstar New England Has Already Laid the Groundwork
For years there have been Bully rumors claiming that Rockstar is working on either a remake or a new entry. The rumors have taken many forms, with some claiming the protagonist will be a woman, and others claiming it will have a map many times larger than the original. However, one should always take these rumors with a grain of salt.
Fortunately, in 2022 fans received confirmation that Rockstar had once worked on a Bully sequel. Developers from Rockstar New England spoke to Game Informer about the ups and downs of Bully 2's development, and revealed some of the ambitious ideas they had. According to one developer, they hoped for the Bully series to "sit alongside Rockstar games of the time, such as Grand Theft Auto 4 and Red Dead Redemption." They had lofty plans, including the ability for players to enter every building, and for NPCs to remember the actions of players.
Unfortunately, due to factors including major layoffs, Bully 2 never saw the light of day, and many of the developers left Rockstar New England. However, the hard work was not all lost. Some systems originally dreamed up for Bully 2 found their way into other Rockstar games. For example, the in-depth social system meant for Bully 2 was implemented in Red Dead Redemption 2. In typical Rockstar fashion, some seemingly pointless but still impressive systems were going to be added, such as a grass system that would allow it to grow realistically. Players would be able to improve their lawnmowing skills to create patterns on people's lawns.
It is not too late for Rockstar to get around to Bully 2. Best of all, it would not require the company to start from scratch, as a lot of the groundwork has been laid out by Rockstar New England. The fountain of original ideas for Bully 2 demonstrates that a hunger to create the game is present, and Rockstar would not have to worry about a lack of enthusiasm for the project from its team.
Bully's cult-classic status is deserved, and years later the game still manages to drum up interest. Although it has been a long time since Rockstar has acknowledged Bully's existence, this does not mean it is over for the series. There may be avenues for fans to enjoy more of the Bully universe, either through a remake or a new entry.
Bully is available now on Mobile, PC, PS2, Wii, and Xbox 360.