In a move that has ignited fury among gamers, Epic Games Store has begun removing the popular dungeon-crawler Dark and Darker from user libraries—even though the game was previously offered as a free giveaway. Players who claimed the title during its promotional period are now discovering it missing from their collections without warning, raising questions about digital ownership rights.
The controversy stems from Epic’s decision to honor a takedown request related to an ongoing legal battle between Dark and Darker’s developer, Ironmace, and Nexon. The South Korean publisher alleges the game was built using stolen code, leading to a messy copyright dispute that previously forced the game off Steam. Though Epic initially hosted the title during its free promotion in August 2023, the store has now complied with renewed legal pressure, effectively revoking access for all users.
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Image: Dark and Darker’s PvPvE gameplay has amassed a dedicated following. Source: Ironmace
Affected players report receiving no direct notification from Epic, only discovering the removal when attempting to launch the game. Forums and social media have exploded with frustration, with one Reddit user lamenting, "I get the legal issues, but deleting a game I ‘own’ feels like theft." The backlash highlights growing tensions over the impermanence of digital game libraries—a pain point Epic itself criticized when launching its store to compete with Steam.
Community resources and updates are being tracked by outlets like Chaf Games, which has compiled guides for displaced players seeking alternatives.
Ironmace continues fighting the allegations, recently releasing Dark and Darker via its own launcher and cryptocurrency payment options. However, the Epic purge leaves console-less players in limbo. Legal experts suggest Epic’s hands may be tied by copyright law, but the incident fuels debates about clearer policies for revoked games. As one industry analyst noted, "Stores need transparency. If a game can vanish, users deserve advance notice—or refunds for lost value."
Epic has yet to comment publicly on the removals. For now, players who cherished their free copy of Dark and Darker are left with empty libraries and a stark reminder: in the digital age, "owning" a game is often just a lease.
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