NetEase's New FPS ECC: Redline Accused of Copying Warzone, But Some Call of Duty Fans Welcome It

Call of Duty fans are divided over NetEase Games' ECC: Redline, a new first-person shooter that many are calling a 'rip-off' but that could fill the void for frustrated Warzone players.

NetEase described its new shooter as a 'self-developed extreme-sports tactical shooter' when it was revealed just days ago. It's another ambitious move from the China-based tech giant, promising fast-paced gameplay on PC via Steam and mobile devices. However, since its debut, it's also been labeled a '1:1 rip' of Activision's Call of Duty: Warzone, and it's easy to see why.

Viewers note that the guns look, recoil, and move in a familiar way, but the similarities don't end there. Everything from the UI to the sound effects is being scrutinized by FPS enthusiasts, with many pointing out that the audio evokes the same gritty action Call of Duty is known for. Even the way the first-person camera blurs when dropping from heights might feel familiar to Warzone fans. Despite featuring characters with unique abilities and gadgets, ECC: Redline has struggled to escape online comparisons.

Introducing ECC: REDLINE, an extreme-sports tactical shooter.Welcome to the Extreme Circuit Championship.Enter the Circuit, Own the Edge.Wishlist now on Steam:https://t.co/zy0dnkBGQn#ECCREDLINE #ECC https://t.co/TL7c3fAoAX

'Warzone + Delta Force + Blood Strike = ECC: Redline,' one YouTube comment on NetEase's official upload read.

'It's 1-to-1 Warzone, hilarious s**t,' another commenter on Reddit said.

'Literally the first thing that popped into my head was wow they have no shame,' another replied, 'straight copied COD even down to the UI and emblems etc.'

Meanwhile, Call of Duty has faced its own challenges in the six years since the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare reboot introduced Warzone in 2019. Like many other popular ongoing FPS experiences, the battle royale's popularity has fluctuated, with many of its millions of fans often reminiscing about its launch build and first map, Verdansk, as the glory days.

This looks about as close of a 1:1 rip of Warzone as someone could legally get away with

This is Warzone with player abilities and some blatant CoD rips😂

@iKaito_1 similar? its literally copy and paste

Activision has returned to Verdansk to recapture that magic, but it has done little to appease those nostalgic for the past. As the broader Call of Duty brand navigates its own struggles, some players—even those who admit NetEase may have gone too far in places—say a polished shooter like ECC: Redline could satisfy a specific craving. Some even believe the NetEase shooter could give Call of Duty a run for its money.

'If ECC: Redline actually has good servers, movement, AND listens to its community… COD might finally have to start trying again,' one post on X/Twitter said.

'Close enough, welcome back OG Warzone,' another player said, acknowledging the similarities before adding that the NetEase game 'looks better tbh.'

Looks like someone reverse-engineered OG Warzone and added character abilities.I'm actually kinda interested in trying this 😅

Warzone don't have ability 🥳! Netease definitely might pull this one off lol https://t.co/oHFmquZoTK

@ModernWarzone So what? I'd rather spend it on a ripoff game who listens to their customers then a conglomerate who 💩 on them.

'I LEGIT thought it was WZ at first because i didn't check the title,' one social media user said, adding a crying emoji.

NetEase has faced criticism for its approach to previous games. A less extreme example is Marvel Rivals, a comic book hero shooter that exploded in popularity—and drew comparisons to Blizzard Entertainment's Overwatch—when it launched in 2024. On the other hand is Hyper Front, a 5v5 tactical shooter that Riot Games sued over due to its similarities to Valorant.

ECC: Redline currently has no release date but is being billed as a free-to-play game. Warzone, meanwhile, is set to receive a slew of new updates when Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 launches later this month.