Project CARS Developer’s Upcoming Console Runs Into Problems

Published: April 30, 2019 9:40 AM /

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slightly mad studios

Slightly Mad Studios, known for their Project CARS series, have withdrawn their trademark application for their upcoming ‘Mad Box’  console.

Studio CEO Ian Bell announced the console back in January as “the most powerful console ever built”. It will apparently have 60 FPS VR compatibility and 4K capability. Bell said the console will be “competitive with upcoming console prices.” It will also launch with a free game engine.

According to PCGamesInsider, the developer filed the ‘Mad Box’ trademark with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) on January 3 shortly after announcing the console. French studio Madbox filed an opposition on March 25.

In their opposition filed with the EUIPO Madbox cited a “likelihood of confusion on the part of the public.” This is probably in reference to the proposed trademark’s similarity to the studio’s name. The filing came near the end of the three-month period allowed for Opposition by European IP law. During this period companies may raise issues with the trademark application.

Slightly Mad withdrew the trademark application on April 5. They may be looking to come to an agreement with Madbox, or more likely are brainstorm an entirely new name.

Slightly Mad’s announcement of the console announcement likely came as quite a surprise to many. Not only is it unusual for a developer to announce a fully-fledged (and fully-priced) console, but Slightly Mad has exclusively released racing games since being founded in 2008.

The studio has primarily been working on (and co-publishing alongside Bandai Namco) the Project CARS series for a few years. They also developed Red Bull Air Race: The Game in 2016. Bell announced in January that an upcoming mainline Project CARS game is in pre-production. A mobile game titled Project CARS GO is also on the way.

The studio has not commented on the withdrawal or since the withdrawl anything regarding the upcoming console.

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| Staff Writer

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