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Square Enix and mobile studio HK Ten Tree have settled a copyright lawsuit stemming from the alleged use of assets from a canceled Front Mission game. Here’s a breakdown of the situation:
The Dispute
- Background: Square Enix partnered with HK Ten Tree and its developer BlackJack Studio to create *Front Mission 2089: Borderscape*, a mobile game announced in April 2022. However, the project was canceled in October 2022, and the licensing agreement was terminated.
- The Claim: Square Enix accused HK Ten Tree of using assets created for *Front Mission 2089: Borderscape* in their own mobile game, *Metal Storm* (also known as *Mecharashi* in some Asian territories), which was released in 2024. Square Enix argued this constituted copyright infringement.
- Legal Action: In March 2025, Square Enix filed a lawsuit in Seattle, seeking to block the Western release of *Metal Storm* and demanding $150,000 in damages for each instance of copyright infringement. They also claimed that some of *Metal Storm*’s gameplay systems were similar to those of *Borderscape*.
Ten Tree’s Response
- Ten Tree acknowledged the lawsuit and publicly stated their intention to seek an amicable resolution.
- The company began replacing some of *Metal Storm*’s in-game graphics, seemingly to remove the allegedly infringing assets.
The Settlement
- Square Enix and HK Ten Tree reached a settlement on May 20, 2025, leading to the dismissal of the lawsuit.
- The terms of the settlement have not been publicly disclosed.
- Ten Tree issued a statement confirming the settlement and apologizing for any inconvenience caused. They also indicated that *Metal Storm*’s Western release would proceed as planned.
Aftermath
- A new trailer for *Metal Storm* was released, suggesting the game is still on track for release.
- The settlement allows *Metal Storm* to continue its operations, resolving the legal dispute that threatened its launch in the West.