Bohemia Pissed Over Operation Flashpoint Sequel
Codemasters has been touting the upcoming Operation Flashpoint sequel as an “official” return to the series for some time now, and it appears Bohemia Interactive, developers of the original game and the ArmA series of spiritual sequels, is not taking kindly to this, as they are protesting against Codemasters.
Bohemia developed the original military shooter which Codemasters published back in 2001. However, the two companies parted ways over legal disputes, and Bohemia continued making military shooters under the ArmA name.
Recently Codemasters announced its own Operation Flashpoint sequel, placing it in direct competition with ArmA 2, which has upset Bohemia.
"In the license agreement, Bohemia Interactive expressly reserved the exclusive right to develop sequels to the original OFP game," said Bohemia attorney Leora Herrmann. "Codemasters also acknowledged that Bohemia owns all the intellectual property in the game–except the words ‘Operation Flashpoint’."
"Since Codemasters has no right to use the Bohemia Interactive game engine or any other component of the Bohemia-developed game, how can it rightfully claim to produce a ’sequel’?" asked Bohemia CEO Marek Spanel.
Spanel admits that while they cannot stop Codemasters from publishing the game, he believes that the company should not promote it as the official sequel to the original.
Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising is due out on PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 this summer.