Bully is one of Rockstar Games' biggest cult classics, but it has a second, more dubious reputation as one of its most neglected IPs, and one that deserves a sequel more urgently than Grand Theft Auto. Originally released in 2006, the game weathered the initial controversy surrounding it to become a success, and for over a decade, rumors about a potential sequel have swirled. Even when one potential sequel doesn't come to pass, rumors of another one are not far behind, and Bully's fanbase is eager for a new installment.
With most of the recent discussion surrounding Rockstar focused on a prospective new installment of Grand Theft Auto, however, it can't hurt to consider what else they could be spending their time on. Bully still has a faithful fanbase, and after rumors of a sequel have been circling for so long, including recent leaks that Bully 2 will be shown soon, it may be a good idea to finally put some truth to them. While theories on what may come with GTA 6 abound, it may be better to ask whether or not a proper continuation of Bully could be on the horizon.
One thing that should be taken into account is how many times a sequel has been teased by the rumor mill, as well as how much excitement it stirs. There is clearly interest in a game that follows up on the unique, timeless world of Bullworth that was introduced in the first game. In addition, the gameplay of the original still holds up well with its mix of open world roaming and skill-based classroom minigames. These ensured that Bully wasn't just a school-set GTA, and the game is still fun to play 15 years later.
Bully 2 Can Help Alleviate GTA Fatigue
While Bully more or less had an open-and-shut story, with Jimmy having either pacified or utterly defeated all of the school's antagonistic forces by the end, there is still room for a new story to unfold. For example, a new antagonistic faction could roll into Bullworth Academy in the time since the previous game. Or perhaps Jimmy leaves Bullworth, and his put-upon pal Petey from the first game has to fight to earn respect and keep the school from devolving back into chaos. Finally, there is always the possibility that a generation has passed since the first game, and a new Bully protagonist, potentially played by Mia Yim, has to deal with the new wave of bullies that have sprung up in the meantime.
In addition to Bully's own merits, there is the danger that Grand Theft Auto could become too oversaturated in the market. GTA Online is still regularly being updated, and GTA 5 has still yet to leave the mainstream consciousness. Continuing to push Grand Theft Auto so strongly without a break could cause audiences to get sick of it due to overpromotion. GTA may be Rockstar's most prized series, but pushing anything too much will eventually cause people to sour on it. This is only exacerbated by rumors that GTA 6 caused Bully 2's cancellation, whether or not that may be true.
GTA 6 has been a target of frequent speculation, but Bully 2 has been discussed and theorized about for far longer. As an added incentive, the Bully fanbase has proven incredibly loyal for holding out for a new installment even after so long. Considering the series' potential, as well as how much excitement a sequel announcement would stir up, it is clear that the time is nigh for the Bully series to continue.