Fake Version of Microsoft Exclusive Game 'Cuphead' Makes it Onto iOS App Store for $4.99 [Update: Removed] - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

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

by

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

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.

Top Rated Comments

jonnysods Avatar
116 months ago
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.
The more tech improves, the more ways jerks find to rip off unsuspecting people. Its a shame.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Solomani Avatar
116 months ago
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.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ArtOfWarfare Avatar
116 months ago
The Verge ('https://www.theverge.com/2017/12/18/16789870/apple-ios-fake-cuphead-game-app-store-studiomdhr') 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."
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.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Janichsan Avatar
116 months ago
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.
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.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
newyorksole Avatar
116 months ago
It’s the holiday season so it seems like some employees in the iOS App Store division are off of work Lol.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
earthTOmitchel Avatar
116 months ago
Have they actually ported the game though or is it a completely fake app that does nothing on install?
The Verge ('https://www.theverge.com/2017/12/18/16789870/apple-ios-fake-cuphead-game-app-store-studiomdhr') 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."
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Apple Creator Studio iWork suite

Apple Pulls Keynote, Pages and Numbers From App Store [Update: Back]

Thursday October 22, 2026 11:01 am PDT by
Apple has temporarily removed Keynote, Pages, and Numbers from the App Store, just after releasing an update that added iPhone Duo support and a new Intelligent Assistant. It is not clear if the apps were removed intentionally, or if it is a bug. Apple has not said when the apps will be reinstated, but if it was in error, they should return soon. Update: The Mac versions are back without...
iPhone Duo Apps feature

Apple Reveals More Than 50 Apps That Will Be Updated for iPhone Duo

Thursday October 22, 2026 6:04 am PDT by
Apple today highlighted more than 50 third-party App Store apps that are or will soon be fully optimized for the iPhone Duo and its various layouts and poses. You can hold the iPhone Duo and set it down in a number of ways, such as partially folded like a book, placed down on a surface, or standing on its edges: With the Netflix app, for example, Apple said iPhone Duo users can scroll...
Apple Says Over 100000 Apps Optimized for iPhone Duo But These Are Still Missing Feature 1

Apple Says More Than 100,000 Apps Optimized for iPhone Duo, Here's What's Still Missing

Friday November 6, 2026 9:18 am PST by
Apple today announced that more than 100,000 apps have been optimized for the iPhone Duo, released two weeks ago. We confirmed that this figure refers to apps built with the iOS 27.1 SDK or later, meaning these apps fill the full width of the iPhone Duo's inner and outer displays and have vertical controls in the status bar. A statement from Susan Prescott, Apple's Vice President of...
Latest Stories
macOS 27.2.1 Fixes eMudhra Certificate Flaw in Command-Line Tools
macOS 27.2.1 Fixes eMudhra Certificate Flaw in Command-Line Tools
49 minutes ago
Anthropic Launches Claude Fable 5.2 and Mythos 5.2
Anthropic Launches Claude Fable 5.2 and Mythos 5.2
2 hours ago
Apple Releases macOS Golden Gate 27.2.1
Apple Releases macOS Golden Gate 27.2.1
3 hours ago
Apple Releases iOS 27.2.1 With Bug Fixes
Apple Releases iOS 27.2.1 With Bug Fixes
3 hours ago
Apple Releases watchOS 27.2.1 and visionOS 27.2.1 With Security Fixes
Apple Releases watchOS 27.2.1 and visionOS 27.2.1 With Security Fixes
3 hours ago
Apple Watch Ultra 4 Gets $99 Amazon Discounts, Starting at $699.99
Apple Watch Ultra 4 Gets $99 Amazon Discounts, Starting at $699.99
3 hours ago
Apple Pay Ad Features Martial Arts Convenience Store Food Fight
Apple Pay Ad Features Martial Arts Convenience Store Food Fight
3 hours ago
Apple Continues to Say Some AI Features Will Have Fees for Extra Usage
Apple Continues to Say Some AI Features Will Have Fees for Extra Usage
4 hours ago
Apple Announces Türkiye Expansion Plans as Tim Cook Visits
Apple Announces Türkiye Expansion Plans as Tim Cook Visits
5 hours ago
Singapore Saved Apple $2.7 Billion in Taxes This Year
Singapore Saved Apple $2.7 Billion in Taxes This Year
5 hours ago
Apple Music's 2026 Artist of the Year is Olivia Dean
Apple Music's 2026 Artist of the Year is Olivia Dean
5 hours ago
This Could Be Your Last Chance to Pre-Order the HomeView at a Discount
This Could Be Your Last Chance to Pre-Order the HomeView at a Discount
5 hours ago
Some HomePod Mini 2 Buyers Returning Units Over Mac Speaker Issues
Some HomePod Mini 2 Buyers Returning Units Over Mac Speaker Issues
6 hours ago
MacBook Pro With PROLED XDR Display: Details You Might Have Missed
MacBook Pro With PROLED XDR Display: Details You Might Have Missed
6 hours ago
Satechi Offers MacRumors Readers 30% Off Select Accessories in Early Black Friday Sale
Satechi Offers MacRumors Readers 30% Off Select Accessories in Early Black Friday Sale
6 hours ago
Leaker Envisions a Shorter iPhone With a New iOS Layout
Leaker Envisions a Shorter iPhone With a New iOS Layout
7 hours ago
Apple to Give You More Control Over When Your Mac Passwords Lock
Apple to Give You More Control Over When Your Mac Passwords Lock
8 hours ago
Siri Is Getting a Better Memory
Siri Is Getting a Better Memory
8 hours ago
iPhone 18e Could Feature Bigger Display and Battery
iPhone 18e Could Feature Bigger Display and Battery
9 hours ago
Apple's Siri Boss May Leave - Here's Who Could Take Over
Apple's Siri Boss May Leave - Here's Who Could Take Over
9 hours ago
Apple Launching Two More New Products This Friday
Apple Launching Two More New Products This Friday
9 hours ago
Apple Store Subscription Sign-Up Controversy Exposed
Apple Store Subscription Sign-Up Controversy Exposed
18 hours ago
Siri AI Rumored to Become 'More Like an Agent' as Early as Next Year
Siri AI Rumored to Become 'More Like an Agent' as Early as Next Year
1 day ago
Apple Taking New Approach to Developing iOS 28 and macOS 28
Apple Taking New Approach to Developing iOS 28 and macOS 28
1 day ago
Early Apple Black Friday Deals on Apple Watch, MacBook Air, and More
Early Apple Black Friday Deals on Apple Watch, MacBook Air, and More
2 days ago
'Backglow' Lets You Customize New MacBook Pro's Glowing Apple Logo
'Backglow' Lets You Customize New MacBook Pro's Glowing Apple Logo
2 days ago
Top Stories: Apple Product Launches, iOS 27.3 Beta, and More
Top Stories: Apple Product Launches, iOS 27.3 Beta, and More
2 days ago
More Fun iPhone Duo Apps: 30 New Picks to Try
More Fun iPhone Duo Apps: 30 New Picks to Try
3 days ago
Hands-On With Apple's New OLED Touchscreen MacBook Pro
Hands-On With Apple's New OLED Touchscreen MacBook Pro
3 days ago
Apple Store With All-New Design Opening Soon in Southern California
Apple Store With All-New Design Opening Soon in Southern California
3 days ago