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Fake Version of Microsoft Exclusive Game 'Cuphead' Makes it Onto iOS App Store for $4.99 [Update: Removed]

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After a fake app for MyEtherWallet.com rose to gain prominence on the iOS App Store last week, another scam has hit Apple's App Store in the form of a fake version of the popular side-scrolling shooter Cuphead, which is an Xbox One and PC exclusive (via TouchArcade). The app is still on the App Store as of writing and sells for $4.99, listing what seems to be Cuphead's actual developer -- StudioMDHR Entertainment Inc. -- as the app's seller, which is an incorrect description of the developer's real name: StudioMDHR.

When news of the fake app spread online this morning, StudioMDHR took to Twitter to confirm that this is not a real version of Cuphead and it will be working to contact Apple and remove the app as soon as possible.

fakecuphead.jpeg
There is a Cuphead imposter app on the iOS store -- this is a scam. We are working on removing the fraudulent app ASAP! - Studio MDHR (@StudioMDHR) December 18, 2017
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Cuphead launched on September 29 as an exclusive for Microsoft Windows PCs and the Xbox One console. StudioMDHR has hinted that it has "plans to support" other platforms in the future, but those plans appear to be focused on macOS and not iOS. For the fake app, the App Store listing appears to use real screenshots from the game, while a video shows off touch screen controls with a joystick and A and B buttons appearing as the inputs to control the main character.

Apple's app review process tends to be very strict, so it's again unclear how a fake app asking users for money made it past the company in the first place. For MyEtherWallet, that fraudulent app also charged people $4.99, making it as high as #3 on the App Store's Finance charts and existing on the store for over one week. Apple eventually removed the app from the App Store, which it is expected to do for Cuphead as well.

Update 7:32 a.m. PST: Apple has removed Cuphead from the iOS App Store.

Article Link: Fake Version of Microsoft Exclusive Game 'Cuphead' Makes it Onto iOS App Store for $4.99 [Update: Removed]
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2017/12/18/fake-version-of-cuphead-ios/
lellis2k said:
Have they actually ported the game though or is it a completely fake app that does nothing on install?
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The Verge reported that it is playable, but expectedly janky: "You actually can play this version of Cuphead using touch controls, but it’s... a little off. The backgrounds look low-resolution, the animation is primitive. Some basic elements don’t seem adapted to a touchscreen: its menu screen still tells you to “push any button,” for instance."
 
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earthTOmitchel said:
The Verge reported that it is playable, but expectedly janky: "You actually can play this version of Cuphead using touch controls, but it’s... a little off. The backgrounds look low-resolution, the animation is primitive. Some basic elements don’t seem adapted to a touchscreen: its menu screen still tells you to “push any button,” for instance."
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That's interesting. So there's an actual iOS emulator capable of running the game then... that or someone managed to decompile the game for another platform and recompile it for iOS, which seems even less likely to me.
 
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69Mustang said:
Has Apple automated more of the approval process? If they have, I wonder if there's an approval "cheat" floating around the underbelly of the internet.
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I don't believe it's automated as it has been taking very long lately, even for TestFlight distribution.
I understand submissions volume has increased for the holidays, so if it's a fully automated process, it shouldn't take long, unless it does requires human intervention. If the later was the case, it's easier to fool humans than machines, specially when the humans are working in a hurry.
 
It seems like the game was actually playable, but it wasn't a good port. I can see how a human reviewer could have been fooled if that's the case.
 
There are many fake apps lately, a lot from China. I beginn to question that the security and approval team from the App Store was scaled accordingly to the growth of the store.
 
Solomani said:
It is not enough for Apple to remove/ban these fake apps on the App Store. Both Microsoft and Apple (with the help of the FBI) also need to go after these developers legally, for fraud as well as copyright/IP infringements.
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Different countries have different rules. I agree with you, but a work of futility. The best thing is to ban the account, remove the app, put a flag about the information used to register the account. All easily changed for the next quick grab for cash.

The community is the best source of policing. Report and Apple acted very quickly. Very well handled!
 
Mike MA said:
There are many fake apps lately, a lot from China. I beginn to question that the security and approval team from the App Store was scaled accordingly to the growth of the store.
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Just the App Store? Not the MacOS team, or the iOS team, or the Wireless router team?
 
jonnysods said:
That's a fast way to make money!
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They merely lost time preparing this app. Apple will not be paying them a dime.

What's curious is how they got this app functioning enough to pass the review process? Is there an automated app making tool that they've developed? Can they use it to churn out dozens upon dozens of fake apps using their approach?

I honestly don't know how these people sleep at night, knowing that they are scum.
 
coolfactor said:
They merely lost time preparing this app. Apple will not be paying them a dime.

What's curious is how they got this app functioning enough to pass the review process? Is there an automated app making tool that they've developed? Can they use it to churn out dozens upon dozens of fake apps using their approach?

I honestly don't know how these people sleep at night, knowing that they are scum.
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The more tech improves, the more ways jerks find to rip off unsuspecting people. Its a shame.
 
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coolfactor said:
They merely lost time preparing this app. Apple will not be paying them a dime.

What's curious is how they got this app functioning enough to pass the review process? Is there an automated app making tool that they've developed? Can they use it to churn out dozens upon dozens of fake apps using their approach?

I honestly don't know how these people sleep at night, knowing that they are scum.
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Apparently, Cuphead was just the start...
https://9to5mac.com/2017/12/18/stol...-developer-website-appears-to-be-one-of-many/
 
69Mustang said:
Has Apple automated more of the approval process? If they have, I wonder if there's an approval "cheat" floating around the underbelly of the internet.
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I don't think the approval process ever involved IP ownership, I don't see how a reviewer could know if a game or a company name was a rip-off copy of another.
 
Looking the characters they bear more than a passing resemblance to a certain mouse. I wonder when a certain mouse's lawyers will be munching on some cupcakes.
 
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ArtOfWarfare said:
That's interesting. So there's an actual iOS emulator capable of running the game then... that or someone managed to decompile the game for another platform and recompile it for iOS, which seems even less likely to me.
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They probably just ripped the original's resources (graphics, music, etc.) - which isn't that difficult - and hastily slapped together a game resembling the original.
 
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Janichsan said:
They probably just ripped the original's resources (graphics, music, etc.) - which isn't that difficult - and hastily slapped together a game resembling the original.
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Yeah, that could be and would make sense. The amazing thing about the game is the art and level design, not the run and gun engine (or at least, that's what I hear about. I haven't played the game myself.)
 
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