Epic Games Store pulls free-to-play Dark and Darker as copyright dispute continues

A year after it debuted on Epic Games Store in March 2024, the free-to-play version of Dark and Darker has once again been delisted.

Developer Ironmace claims the game has been withdrawn due to its on-going copyright legal dispute with Nexon Games.

Both editions of the game – the free-to-play Dark and Dark, and premium Dark and Darker: Legendary Status – remain on Steam. The latter is also still available on Epic Games Store.

“Epic Games has decided to delist Dark and Darker from the Epic Games Store,” Ironmace told players via Discord (thanks, PCGN).

“The decision appears to be based on claims made by opposing parties in an ongoing legal dispute. We are currently working to understand the exact reasoning behind this removal.

“It seems that the removal process is not yet fully complete, as Dark and Darker is no longer listed, but Dark and Darker: Legendary Status is still available for purchase. Please be aware of this potential confusion.

“In preparation for the possibility that Dark and Darker may no longer be playable on Epic Games, we are working on alternative solutions to ensure that players can continue enjoying the game,” Ironmace concluded, before apologizing for any “inconvenienced” caused and promising to will share more details as soon as possible.

Dark and Darker launched on Steam in February 2023, but was delisted after Nexon alleged that the game began as its own prototype project P3. Ironmace is composed of former Nexon employees, and Nexon alleged that “stolen” code and assets were used by the team to make Darker and Darker.

In March 2023, Ironmace was raided by the Korean police who seized material related to Dark and Darker, but in January 2024, a South Korean court dismissed Nexon’s preliminary injunction against Ironmace.