Dark And Darker Launches Today, Just Not On Steam

Dark and Darker, which generated a large following via multiple playtests on Steam over the past year, is releasing today, just not on Valve’s popular PC gaming platform.

As revealed by YouTuber Onepeg and later confirmed by PC Gamer, Dark, and Darker’s release is here, but players will need to purchase the game either through the official Dark and Darker website or via a Korean-based game-selling site called Chaf Games. As of writing, the official website is broken, presumably due to the surge of traffic as eager players look to purchase the game. While the game’s listing on Chaf Games includes a purchase button, it currently doesn’t work at the time of writing.

Developer Ironmace’s fantasy-themed extraction shooter, which was slated to release in early access on Steam earlier this year, was pulled from Steam’s storefront following a legal dispute between Korean gaming giant Nexon and Ironmace. Nexon issued a DMCA takedown of the game, arguing that Ironmace, which consists of former Nexon developers, stole code and assets from a canceled Nexon project in order to create Dark and Darker. The dispute between Nexon and Ironmace represents an unprecedented legal battle between two rival gaming companies, with the repercussions of the takedown likely to be felt throughout the gaming industry. Ironmace denies those allegations, and legal proceedings are currently underway both in the United States and in Korea.

Since the game can’t be released on Steam until the ongoing legal battle is settled, Ironmace has instead opted to create its own launcher and sell the game directly. Ironmace CEO Terence Park messaged Onepeg to inform him the game was launching on August 7 and provided other official details, according to Onepeg, who has extensively covered the game and its ongoing legal battle (so much so that his name appears in official court documents).

Two editions of Dark and Darker will be available for sale. Founder’s Editions come with exclusive skins for skeleton characters, a torch, and emotes, whereas the standard edition is $35. Moreover, Founder’s Editions are limited-time offers, so those interested should purchase them soon. Regardless of where the game is purchased, players will be playing on the same servers and using the same launcher.

New progression mechanics will see players earn a currency called Blue Shards that can be spent on cosmetics. Players will earn five of the new currency upon purchasing the game. Blue Shards can only be earned through gameplay, but players can also purchase Red Shards with real money, which can also be used to unlock cosmetics. Some cosmetics will only be earnable through Blue Shards and vice versa.

Dark and Darker’s last Steam playtest saw the game rise to be one of the most played games on the platform during Steam Next Fest, reaching more than 110,000 concurrent players. Dark and Darker is a 2D multiplayer game developed by the independent studio Red Genie. The game combines elements of roguelike dungeon exploration, 2D platforming, and action-based combat, all set in a procedurally generated world. The game’s most recent playtest, which occurred in April after its removal from Steam, saw Ironmace deliver Dark and Darker via torrent.