ECC: Redline, the NetEase FPS Branded a Copycat That Has Warzone Fans Excited

NetEase Games has a new shooter in the works, and it arrives with controversy built in. As reported by IGN España, ECC: Redline has been accused of plagiarism over its resemblance to Call of Duty. Many players have flat-out called it an "imitation". The interesting part is that a large chunk of the CoD community, rather than closing ranks around Activision's series, is watching the project with interest and even a fair bit of excitement.

Why does this matter? Because the reaction says more about the state of the battle royale scene than about the game itself. When fans of a franchise welcome something that looks a lot like their own game with open arms, the message is clear: there is a gap their usual game is no longer filling. That is exactly what IGN España points to, suggesting that ECC: Redline could become a refuge for frustrated Warzone players.

What you need to know

• ECC: Redline is a new FPS developed by NetEase Games.
• The company itself describes it as an "extreme sports tactical shooter".
• Part of the community accuses it of plagiarism and considers it a Call of Duty imitation.
• CoD fans are divided: many see it as a potential alternative to Warzone.

A shooter born under suspicion

The "extreme sports tactical shooter" label is eye-catching, to say the least. It blends two worlds that rarely go together: the precision and measured pace of tactical play with the speed and spectacle of extreme sports. On paper it sounds like an attempt to stand out, but public perception, at least for now, is heading in a different direction: what people see is something very familiar.

It pays to be cautious. The available information does not specify which elements sparked the accusations, or whether there is anything beyond a general resemblance in visuals, movement or structure. In a genre where almost everything draws from the same well, the line between "taking inspiration" and "copying" gets debated with every release. And NetEase is hardly new to this: it has spent years operating in highly competitive territory and betting on recognizable formulas to break into established markets.

Who it affects and why players are cheering

The group that deserves the most attention here is Warzone players who feel neglected. The fact that they are willing to look at a game accused of being an imitation shows that their priority is not originality, but getting back an experience they feel they have lost. For them, something that "feels like the old days" is not a flaw; it is the selling point.

For Activision, it makes for uncomfortable reading. When a competitor wins goodwill without having proven anything yet, the problem is not just the rival, but your relationship with your own community. And for content creators, a new shooter with built-in controversy is a magnet for views, at least for the first few weeks.

Our take

Here at the Underworld Lordz newsroom, we are clear on this: plagiarism is indefensible, but you also cannot shout "copy" every time an FPS has guns, big maps and a similar pace. Until we see the game in the hands of real players, the accusation is more noise than argument. What is real, and what should worry Activision, is that the community is so fed up that it is cheering on a potential imitator.

From a competitive standpoint, what matters to us is not what ECC: Redline resembles, but whether it has what a serious scene needs: good netcode, solid anti-cheat, stable weapon balance, and tools for tournaments and spectators. A well-made clone can have a longer competitive life than a poorly maintained original. A clone that survives only on other people's frustration, however, fizzles out as soon as the rival course-corrects.

Our advice to content creators: ride the wave, but do not marry it. Covering the launch and the controversy makes sense. Building an entire channel around a game that has yet to prove anything is a risky bet.

What do you think?

The plagiarism accusations are on the table, and so is the frustration with Warzone. The question is which one weighs more when it comes to giving a new game a chance. Would you try ECC: Redline even if it looks too much like Call of Duty, or do you think a copy can never be the answer? Drop by the team chat or our Discord and tell us where you stand.