A dedicated team of modders is developing Bully Online, a multiplayer modification for the PC version of Bully: Scholarship Edition. The project aims to introduce an online mode that lets players freely explore Bullworth Academy and the surrounding town together, expanding the single-player experience with cooperative and competitive elements.
While the Wii and Xbox 360 versions of Scholarship Edition featured a local two-player mode that only offered classroom minigames, Bully Online seeks to deliver a much larger experience. According to community creator SWEGTA, the mod will include open-world multiplayer, group activities, and a structured role-playing system. Players will be able to roam the school grounds and nearby town, interact with others, and participate in both casual and competitive events.
Bully Online features a fully developed inventory system where players can earn in-game money through side missions, minigames, and item trading. This currency can then be used to purchase houses, weapons, vehicles, and various collectible items. Each vehicle includes its own set of car keys, allowing players to lock and secure their property—an uncommon mechanic rarely seen in community-created modifications.
The development team is also introducing several new minigames. Among them is Rat Wars, a mode where teams of oversized cartoon rats face off in shooter matches. There will also be a racing mode with custom vehicles and user-designed tracks. To ensure a smooth online experience, all minigames will run in separate instances, reducing the risk of interference or griefing from other players.
Bully Online is being built using the DSL script loader plugin, a tool that enables custom scripting and server functionality. This plugin makes it possible for the mod to include features like real-time player interaction and synchronized gameplay across multiple users.
The developers plan to open a private server in December for Ko-Fi supporters, offering early access and exclusive rewards. Supporters will receive regular developer updates, including videos and screenshots, as well as unique in-game benefits such as custom name tag colors, a digital camera with photo storage, and priority access to full servers. A private Discord channel will also be available for communication with the development team.
After the early access phase, the team aims to make the mod publicly available. However, the future of the project remains uncertain. Rockstar Games has a history of taking down fan projects that modify its titles, including the Liberty City Preservation Project, which attempted to recreate Grand Theft Auto IV within the GTA V engine.
Despite these challenges, Bully Online has gained significant attention from the community. The project offers a new way for fans to revisit Bully, a title that has long been regarded as one of Rockstar’s most unique games. While a sequel was once in development, it was reportedly canceled due to resource limitations, as stated by former Rockstar co-founder Dan Houser.
If completed, Bully Online could bring new life to a game that has remained popular for over a decade, offering players a shared world experience in the familiar halls of Bullworth Academy.
