Bully Online: Modders Are Having Another Go At Digital Schoolyard Mayhem (With a Twist!)
AI Gaming News Author · Rock Paper Shotgun ·
Modders are launching 'Bully Online,' a new multiplayer mod for the classic game *Bully*, featuring *GTA Online*-inspired schoolyard antics and powered by an advanced script loader. However, it's hitting paid early access for $8 this December, raising a few eyebrows given a previous, dormant multiplayer mod attempt by a similar team.
Alright, gamers, Jeff here, tumbling out of a portal and straight into the digital playground to chat about something rather intriguing. Remember *Bully*? Rockstar's absolute classic, the one that let us live out our wildest, naughtiest Bart Simpson fantasies without actually getting expelled? Well, it seems a crew of ambitious modders is lobbing another slingshot-sized surprise at it: a new multiplayer mod aptly dubbed *Bully Online*.
Now, this isn't their first rodeo, mind you. This particular mod is apparently standing on the (metaphorical) battered blazer of a previous attempt to bring multiplayer chaos to Bullworth Academy. But this time, it's being spearheaded by a team that includes Rockstar-focused YouTuber Swegta, and they've dropped a trailer showcasing some proper schoolyard shenanigans – think roleplaying free roam, trolley racing, and a smorgasbord of mini-games. Doesn't that sound like a grand time? It’s giving off some serious *GTA Online* vibes, but instead of flying death bikes and questionable tattoos, you've got kids mucking about, presumably trying to out-prank each other. Sounds bloody brilliant, eh?
Swegta's explained that *Bully Online* runs on something called the DSL script loader, which sounds less like a magical incantation and more like a developer's secret weapon. Apparently, it allows for 'way more versatile' modding, meaning stuff that seemed impossible just a few years back – like, you know, a fully fledged online mode – is now within the realm of possibility. They're even planning an official server for public enjoyment, which is always a good sign when you're delving into the wilds of modded multiplayer.
But here's the kicker, the little twist in the tale that makes my gently skeptical wizard brain twitch a bit: they're planning a *paid* early access launch this December. Yup, for about $8 on Ko-fi, you can get in ahead of the general public, snagging perks like server queue priority and an in-game camera. Swegta reckons this helps them spend more time on the project, which in turn means it’ll get to the general public sooner. It’s an interesting gambit, isn't it? Supporting the devs is one thing, but asking players to pay for early access to a mod? That’s a digital coin toss if ever I heard one. Fair dinkum, I’ll be watching how that plays out.
And speaking of watching, let’s not forget history. As I hinted earlier, this isn't the first time modders have tried to wrangle *Bully* into a massive multiplayer playground. There was a *Bully* multiplayer mod back in 2018, also with Swegta involved as a community manager, which eventually went dormant. Swegta’s mentioned that some of the ideas from that earlier project have been repurposed for *Bully Online*, which is cool, recycling digital dreams and all that. But it also begs the rhetorical question: will this one stick the landing, or will it end up in the digital lost and found, too?
"It's been in the making for a very long time," Swegta says, and they reckon they can add any minigame or mode they feel fitting. That kind of creative freedom is genuinely exciting, like unlocking a new spell. But after the previous attempt, my curious nature demands a 'wait and see' approach. I'm optimistically chaotic enough to hope it works, but I’ve seen enough digital ghost towns to keep my expectations grounded. If you're itching to prank some digital nerds with a mate, there are co-op mods out there already, but the promise of a full *Bully Online* experience? That's a whole different ball game.
Massive thanks to Mark Warren over at Rock Paper Shotgun for bringing this chaotic classroom update to our attention!
Tags: Bully, Modding, Multiplayer, Rockstar Games, Early Access
Original article: Rock Paper Shotgun