Stalker dev GSC Game World DMCA’d a Stalker-inspired indie off Steam, and the devs are crying foul: ‘This is an abuse of power against small independent developers by a large corporation’
November 9, 2025
On Friday, the indie developer behind the cooperative survival horror shooter Misery took to its Steam community hub to share an urgent message, accompanied by an image of a crying cat. The post, titled “We are under attack!”, revealed that the game had been delisted from Steam due to a DMCA strike initiated by GSC Game World, the studio known for the Stalker series.
Details of the DMCA Strike
The post included screenshots of an email from Valve addressed to Maewing, the 19-year-old developer who largely created Misery on his own, along with the game’s publisher, Ytopia. The email stated that GSC Game World claimed Misery utilized their game content without authorization, providing several screenshots that highlighted similarities between the two games. Notably, these images depicted scenes featuring survivors adorned in scavenged gear and gas masks, gathered around a campfire playing music.
(Image credit: Maewing)
In response to the DMCA claim, the Misery team articulated their position in the community post, asserting, “We do not pose any threat to GSC or their IP, we do not compete with their games, nor do we use any of their IP.” They emphasized that while Misery draws inspiration from various sources, including games, films, and literature, the filing of a DMCA strike was unwarranted. The developer pointed out that GSC Game World’s own creations are influenced by works like Roadside Picnic and the Stalker film by Tarkovsky, and argued that they do not hold exclusive rights to themes such as abandoned locations or the aesthetic of Soviet-era buildings.
Furthermore, the post clarified that Misery does not incorporate any characters, plotlines, assets, or music from GSC’s games, asserting that all content is either original or legally licensed. The developers expressed concern that such actions represent an abuse of power by a large corporation against smaller independent creators.
In a more candid moment, Maewing’s initial reaction on Discord was less measured, as shared by a Reddit user. His original message, which included strong language, expressed frustration over the DMCA claim. However, this was later edited to remove inflammatory remarks, though he still referred to GSC as “GSK” Game World.
In a follow-up post, Maewing took responsibility for his earlier comments, acknowledging their inappropriateness and emphasizing his respect for players from all backgrounds. He stated, “I do not support any form of extremism, violence, or discrimination against any group of people.” He expressed confidence that Valve would review the situation fairly and handle the DMCA strike professionally.
Speculation among users on the Stalker subreddit suggests that the takedown may be linked to alleged support for the Russian invasion of Ukraine by the developers of Misery. Although the evidence remains unverified, it has sparked discussions within the community. Following the DMCA request, the Misery Discord has undergone significant moderation, with new rules implemented to ban inflammatory discussions related to the ongoing conflict.
While the exact motivations behind the DMCA strike remain unclear, the situation highlights the complexities and challenges faced by independent developers in the gaming industry, particularly when navigating the interests of larger corporations.
Stalker dev GSC Game World DMCA’d a Stalker-inspired indie off Steam, and the devs are crying foul: ‘This is an abuse of power against small independent developers by a large corporation’
On Friday, the indie developer behind the cooperative survival horror shooter Misery took to its Steam community hub to share an urgent message, accompanied by an image of a crying cat. The post, titled “We are under attack!”, revealed that the game had been delisted from Steam due to a DMCA strike initiated by GSC Game World, the studio known for the Stalker series.
Details of the DMCA Strike
The post included screenshots of an email from Valve addressed to Maewing, the 19-year-old developer who largely created Misery on his own, along with the game’s publisher, Ytopia. The email stated that GSC Game World claimed Misery utilized their game content without authorization, providing several screenshots that highlighted similarities between the two games. Notably, these images depicted scenes featuring survivors adorned in scavenged gear and gas masks, gathered around a campfire playing music.
In response to the DMCA claim, the Misery team articulated their position in the community post, asserting, “We do not pose any threat to GSC or their IP, we do not compete with their games, nor do we use any of their IP.” They emphasized that while Misery draws inspiration from various sources, including games, films, and literature, the filing of a DMCA strike was unwarranted. The developer pointed out that GSC Game World’s own creations are influenced by works like Roadside Picnic and the Stalker film by Tarkovsky, and argued that they do not hold exclusive rights to themes such as abandoned locations or the aesthetic of Soviet-era buildings.
Furthermore, the post clarified that Misery does not incorporate any characters, plotlines, assets, or music from GSC’s games, asserting that all content is either original or legally licensed. The developers expressed concern that such actions represent an abuse of power by a large corporation against smaller independent creators.
In a more candid moment, Maewing’s initial reaction on Discord was less measured, as shared by a Reddit user. His original message, which included strong language, expressed frustration over the DMCA claim. However, this was later edited to remove inflammatory remarks, though he still referred to GSC as “GSK” Game World.
In a follow-up post, Maewing took responsibility for his earlier comments, acknowledging their inappropriateness and emphasizing his respect for players from all backgrounds. He stated, “I do not support any form of extremism, violence, or discrimination against any group of people.” He expressed confidence that Valve would review the situation fairly and handle the DMCA strike professionally.
Speculation among users on the Stalker subreddit suggests that the takedown may be linked to alleged support for the Russian invasion of Ukraine by the developers of Misery. Although the evidence remains unverified, it has sparked discussions within the community. Following the DMCA request, the Misery Discord has undergone significant moderation, with new rules implemented to ban inflammatory discussions related to the ongoing conflict.
While the exact motivations behind the DMCA strike remain unclear, the situation highlights the complexities and challenges faced by independent developers in the gaming industry, particularly when navigating the interests of larger corporations.