The story surrounding the popular multiplayer fantasy dungeon crawlerDark and Darkerjust keeps getting crazier. Despite their current ongoing lawsuit with Nexon,Ironmace plans on releasingDark and Darkerin Early Access today. For now, Ironmace haspartnered with subscription-based gaming platform Chaf Games. A purchase button is currently available on theDark and Darkerstore page on Chaf Games but does not appear to be working at this time.[Update:Looks like it is officially available now,at this link.]
After a very popular beta period earlier this year, South Korean developer Ironmace was met with a lawsuit from Nexon claimingDark and Darkerhad many similarities to its game in development titledP3.
Furthermore, Nexon alleged that a former employee named Mr. Choi leakedP3assets on an external server to Ironmace. According to their claims, Mr. Choi was a project team leader forP3before he was fired in August 2021. Nexon also argues that Mr. Choi convinced other teammates on theP3project to follow him in joining Ironmace and usingP3assets to developDark and Darker.
Throughout the entire lawsuit, Ironmace has claimed its innocence. According to the developers, Dark and Darker uses Unreal Engine assets and handmade code, not stolen P3 assets. Furthermore, Ironmace claims Nexon is trying to copyright a game genre, which is not possible.
Ironmace still wants to bringDark and Darkerto Steam
Back in March, policereportedly raided Ironmace’s officesin Seongnam searching for evidence of Nexon’s allegations. Later that month Nexon issued a cease and desist notice to Ironmace in regards to the development ofDark and Darker. A couple of days later the title was delisted completely from Steam due to a DMCA notice filed by Nexon.
Despite a goal to release today on Chaf Games, Ironmace still plans to returnDark and Darkerto Steam as soon as possible. “We cannot ignore the largest PC Storefront in the world,” Ironmace CEOTerence Park told PCGamer.
Dark and Darkerwill release in Early Access later today for PC.
