Epic Games is poised to make a significant change to its library, as it prepares to remove the game Dark and Darker from the accounts of all players who own it, effective November 1. Initially taken off the Epic Games Store earlier this year, the game remained accessible to existing owners. However, this will no longer be the case, marking a notable shift in the platform’s offerings.
Background on the Controversy
The removal stems from ongoing legal disputes involving the game’s developer, Ironmace, and Nexon, a company that alleges that it was wronged by Ironmace. The intricacies of this legal battle have led Epic Games to withdraw Dark and Darker from its storefront entirely, while the game continues to be available on Steam.
In recent communications, Epic Games has begun notifying players via email about the impending removal of Dark and Darker from their libraries. The message outlines the timeline and implications for players:
- “We removed Dark and Darker from sale on the Epic Games Store on March 5 in consideration of a court decision in Korea between Nexon and the game’s publisher, Ironmace. On November 1, 2025, we will be removing Dark and Darker from your library, at which point it will no longer be playable via the Epic Games Store.”
- Players can no longer purchase Redstone Shards or the Legendary Status upgrades through the Epic Games Store, although they may continue to use previously purchased Redstone Shards until the removal date.
- Refunds will be issued for the Legendary Status upgrade, processed back to the original payment method or, if that is not feasible, credited to the player’s Epic account balance. However, refunds for Redstone Shards will not be available.
- Players who do not receive their refunds by July 1 are encouraged to reach out to player support.
The future of Dark and Darker remains uncertain, hinging on the outcome of the ongoing legal proceedings. While Steam has yet to take similar action regarding the game, the situation may evolve as developments unfold.
For those unfamiliar, Dark and Darker is a multiplayer action RPG that blends elements of dungeon crawling within a dark fantasy setting. It made its debut in early access in 2023 and has garnered a mixed reception across platforms, including PC and mobile devices.
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