2023 indie hit has been taken down from online stores, again

Another popular game has been quietly removed from a major online store, and the developers aren’t entirely sure why—at least, not officially. Players logging into the Epic Games Store may have noticed that a certain extraction RPG has vanished, marking yet another twist in an already tangled legal battle.

Ironmace Games has confirmed that Epic Games has delisted Dark and Darker from its store. The studio shared the news on its official Discord server: “Epic Games has decided to delist Dark and Darker from the Epic Games Store. The decision appears to be based on claims made by opposing parties in an ongoing legal dispute.” This marks yet another chapter in the ongoing battle between Ironmace and South Korean publisher Nexon, which has accused the indie studio of using stolen assets to create the game.

Nexon first took legal action in April 2023, alleging that Ironmace developers—who previously worked on a now-canceled project called P3—had taken proprietary code and assets to develop Dark and Darker. The lawsuit led to the game being pulled from Steam last year. In 2024, a Seoul Central District Court ruling found that Ironmace had indeed committed trade secret infringement and ordered them to pay Nexon ₩8.5 billion ($5.8 million). But the court did not find sufficient evidence of copyright infringement, meaning Ironmace was legally allowed to continue developing and operating the game.

Despite the ruling, tensions between the two companies remain high, and the latest removal from Epic Games Store suggests that Nexon may still be exerting pressure on digital storefronts. While Ironmace has stated that it is working to determine the exact reasoning behind the removal, this isn’t the first time such a situation has occurred. The studio had previously fought to get Dark and Darker back onto Steam after its initial delisting and eventually succeeded in doing so. However, this latest development raises questions about whether the game’s future on major platforms remains stable.

The removal appears to be ongoing, as some players have reported that the premium edition of Dark and Darker, known as the Legendary Status edition, is still available for purchase. The standard edition, however, has been completely delisted. Ironmace has warned players of this discrepancy, stating, “Please be aware of this potential confusion.”

Nexon’s argument has always been that Ironmace’s development process was unfairly aided by knowledge and materials obtained during their time working on Project P3. However, the case is far from clear-cut. The legal battle has seen multiple twists and turns, including appeals filed by both parties after the court’s ruling in February. Nexon continues to push for more action, while Ironmace insists that its work is original and that the court’s decision to allow them to continue development proves their legitimacy.

The case has drawn industry-wide attention due to its implications for developers who leave major studios to work on similar projects. While inspiration from past work is common, the fine line between homage and infringement remains a murky area in game development law. Ironmace’s struggle also highlights how digital storefronts can act preemptively based on legal threats, even without a clear ruling against a game.

In the meantime, Ironmace is working on alternative solutions to ensure players can continue accessing Dark and Darker. “We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause,” the studio said. The game remains available on Steam for now, but given the ongoing legal battle, there’s no telling what the future holds. One thing is clear: this game’s journey has been anything but smooth, and its developers are still fighting to keep it online.