Bully 2 was in development at some point, at least according to apparent debug files for Grand Theft Auto 5. The data, which is being picked apart by debuggers, references several Rockstar projects, some of which were cancelled, including the long-awaited Bully sequel and a scrapped GTA 5 expansion.
As reported by VGC, a reference to a game called “Bully 2” can be found in the files. This would suggest that the sequel, or at least some kind of new game in the series, has been in development, although it’s not clear how old these files are.
The first Bully game was launched in 2006. Since then, Rockstar hasn’t even announced a sequel, leaving the rumour mill and various insider reports as our only sources of information.
This most recent discovery comes courtesy of Twitter users @billsyliamgta, @GlowDevs, and @WildBrick142. In the screenshot, we can see a line of code referring to Bully 2, as well as Red Dead Redemption 2, Midnight Club: Los Angeles, and various GTA 5 files.
Given that this leak includes files for Red Dead 2 and a GTA 5 DLC that was reworked into content for GTA Online, we can perhaps place Bully 2’s development in the early to mid-2000s. This would line up with previous reports on the matter, which state that Bully 2 was quietly cancelled in 2017, so Rockstar could focus on Red Dead 2 and GTA 6.
With all of this in mind, it might be bad news for any fans of Bully still hoping we’ll get a sequel. If the data is referring to the rumoured cancelled Bully 2 from 2017, then there’s nothing to indicate that it’s back in development now. The only silver lining is that one of the games it was cancelled in favour of, Red Dead Redemption 2, launched in 2018. GTA 6 is expected to be with us sooner rather than later as well, with a reveal in early December. With this in mind, Rockstar might finally have the time to work on Bully again.
Before this version of Bully was rumoured to be in the works, it’s been reported that Bully 2 was in development all the way back in 2009. Again, it was said to be shelved in favour of other projects, this time the original Red Dead Redemption game and Max Payne 3. So, if development were to resume after GTA 6, it might be at least the third time Rockstar has tried to get the project off the ground.