WithDark and Darkerhaving already been delisted from Steam due to some controversy, developer Ironmace has asked fans to torrent the game to continue supporting it. Nexon and Ironmace have been in a legal back-and-forth since March which has caused theDark and DarkerSteam woes for the latter, but its solution may be viable for some potential fans and a workaround to get the diehards back into the dungeon crawling right away.
Nexon is the developer behindtitles likeMaple StoryandGodzilla Defense Force, but it currently has a game in the works dubbedP3that shares a suspicious number of similarities withDark and Darker. Because there are developers working onDark and Darkerwith experience at Nexon that could’ve been privy toP3, Nexon noticed “major gameplay, rules, and art” similarities between the two titles after an investigation. As a result, Nexon has issued a DMCA and cease and desist to Ironmace regarding the work being done onDark and Darkerand its Steam status, but Ironmace seems undeterred by the legalities and plans to move forward through torrenting.
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According to a Discord post aboutDark and Darkerfrom the developer, players will need to access the game through a torrent rather than anofficial client like Steam, which the developer has given instructions on how to do.Dark and Darkerfans will have to download torrenting software in order to download the latest version of the client, which Ironmace has provided a magnet link to in its community posts. Torrenting is often considered illegal due to its association with pirating, and there are other issues forDark and Darkerfans to consider like potential malware from the torrenting software download. With this in mind, the RPG may lose some fans in the transition into unofficial means.
Given that Ironmace is based in South Korea, there’s a prospective playerbase that may have been able to play the game through official means, but now will no longer be able to play it due to game rating regulations in the country that the developer is adhering to.Dark and Darkerreally gained traction during Steam Next Fest as it became the most-played demo during the event, but it may have caused Nexon to look into the similarities between it andP3. South Koreanpolice have already raided Ironmace studiosover this legal dispute with Nexon which should hint at its severity, but the smaller developer’s dedication to the project may be a glimmer of hope forDark and Darkerfans.
AsDark and Darkerhasn’t been officially released yet and is already embroiled in such legal troubles with Nexon, it’s currently unclear if the game will make it to launch despiteP3still being unrevealed. Ironmace has also taken downa GoFundMe campaignthat has added another strange stipulation to the legal dispute with theMaple Storydev in which they requested funds to maintain development while covering potential legal fees.
Dark and Darkeris available now for PC.
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