Bully fans hungry for something new may finally have a reason to return to Bullworth. As hopes for a sequel fade and Rockstar Games channels its resources into Grand Theft Auto 6, a community-led project called Bully Online is transforming Bully: Scholarship Edition on PC into a full-blown multiplayer experience.
Announced in a trailer on October 27 that quickly pulled in hundreds of thousands of views, Bully Online reimagines the original single-player classic as a social sandbox. Built by SWEGTA and a small team of modders, the project lets players explore the entire town together, roleplay with friends, and build their own stories across shared servers.
What Bully Online adds
– A connected Bullworth: Free-roam the map with other players, take on activities together, and discover emergent moments that weren’t possible solo.
– RPG-style systems: Manage an inventory, trade items for cash, and spend your earnings on houses, weapons, and vehicles.
– Pocket-dimension side content: Optional quests and minigames break out into their own spaces for more experimental gameplay.
– Wild minigames: Rat Wars drops you into a surreal arena where oversized, armed rats battle it out. There’s also a kart-racing mode that lets you piece together scrappy rides from shopping carts, go-karts, and wrecked cars for chaotic races.
Under the hood, the mod runs on the DSL script-loader plugin, which the team says opened the door to features that would have been impossible a few years ago. That framework is what enables the online layer, the new systems, and the wealth of minigames.
Early Access, price, and perks
Bully Online is targeting an Early Access launch in December 2025. Supporters who chip in through the project’s Ko-fi page can get in for an $8 entry fee. Early Access will include:
– Developer previews and updates
– A blue player name tag
– An in-game digital camera
– Priority queueing
– Access to an exclusive supporter Discord channel
The team says the paywall is temporary. The full release is planned to be free for everyone in 2026.
Legal concerns and the team’s stance
Given past takedowns of community projects, some fans are understandably cautious. The developers say Bully Online:
– Requires a legitimate copy of Bully: Scholarship Edition to play
– Does not redistribute game files
– Alters only executables while loading content the team created
– Does not compete with any existing Rockstar Games or Take-Two offerings
They’ve also noted they’re open to hearing from the rights holders and emphasize their goal is simply to give fans a new way to enjoy a beloved game online. As a small, passion-driven team, they stress that Early Access support helps cover the time investment until the free public release.
Why this matters for Bully fans
With Bully 2 unlikely in the near term, this PC multiplayer mod could be the closest the community gets to a modern revival. From shared exploration and player-driven economies to bizarre, replayable minigames, Bully Online aims to recapture the mischief and charm of the original through fresh, social play.
What to do now
– Make sure you own a legal PC copy of Bully: Scholarship Edition
– Watch for Early Access in December 2025 if you want to jump in early and claim supporter perks
– Expect a free public launch in 2026 if you’d rather wait
If you’ve ever wanted to wander Bullworth with friends, trade your way to a better bike, or get lost in a chaotic Rat Wars deathmatch, keep an eye on Bully Online as it moves toward release.
