Dark and Darker
News, coverage and analysis tracking Dark and Darker across the outlets.
Latest coverage
Betawatch: Monsters & Memories plunges testers into The Deep, Loftia begins pre-registrations, and ArcheAge S is on its way next year
Several MMORPGs are entering new testing phases or preparing for launch. Monsters & Memories is plunging testers into 'The Deep' ahead of its early access, while Loftia has begun pre-registrations. ArcheAge S is slated for a Q2 2027 release, with gameplay previews coming soon. Legends of Aria Eternal and Valheim have officially launched, while Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen has experienced layoffs.
Mistfall Hunter Hits 1 Million Players, Full Post-Launch Roadmap Revealed — Too Much Gaming | Video Games Reviews, News, & Guides
Mistfall Hunter has surpassed 1 million players, with its developers revealing a post-launch roadmap. Key updates include new Mist Lord Challenges, the ability to play the second map solo, and the addition of a Javelin weapon type for the Blackarrow class in Season 2. The game has maintained a stable player base of around 30,000 peak players on Steam since its launch.
Betawatch: Stars Reach sets course for early access, EverQuest Legends successfully launches
Stars Reach has announced its paid early access will begin on August 18th, while EverQuest Legends has officially launched. The article also provides updates on Guild Wars 3's music, Cinder City's pre-alpha testing, and Reaper Actual's free weekend, alongside a comprehensive list of games currently in various stages of testing and early access.
Betawatch: Aion 2 outlines head start plans as Guild Wars 3 outlines its story premise
NCsoft has detailed head start plans for Aion 2, which is slated for a global launch in September 2026. Guild Wars 3 has also outlined its story premise, with a beta expected in fall 2027. The article also provides an extensive list of other MMORPGs currently in various stages of testing and development.
Hunger is an "Elder Scrolls-style" extraction RPG from the creators of Hell Let Loose, and I'm already sold on its World of Warcraft leanings
Hunger is an upcoming extraction RPG from Good Fun Corporation, the developers behind Hell Let Loose. Director Max Rea describes it as an "Elder Scrolls-style extraction shooter" that blends MMO elements like professions and character progression with the scavenging loop of games like Escape from Tarkov. The game features a unique Napoleonic-era setting ravaged by a plague and focuses on persistent character development over gear wipes.
The Mistfall Hunter demo is currently the most played demo this Steam Next Fest
The Mistfall Hunter demo is currently the most played during Steam Next Fest, reaching a peak of over 14,000 players. This co-op third-person action game with extraction mechanics is set to release on July 29th for PC, Xbox, and PlayStation 5. Despite some reported performance issues common with Unreal Engine 5 titles, the demo has shown significant momentum since its alpha playtest.
MMO Week in Review: The big rebranding of CCP Games
CCP Games, the studio behind EVE Online, has rebranded to Fenris Creations and announced a partnership with Google DeepMind for AI development. This news comes amidst other MMO updates including Guild Wars 2's new zone, Conan Exiles' Enhanced version, and acquisitions like Daybreak buying Cold Iron Studios.
Dark and Darker gets a fix for Linux / Steam Deck being unable to play certain modes
Dark and Darker has received a fix for an issue that prevented players on Linux and Steam Deck from accessing certain game modes due to new anti-cheat measures. The Season 9 update also introduced new content like a revamped Inferno, skills for Rogue and Ranger, an in-game ping system, and a new party finder. The developer, Ironmace, has also reportedly resolved previous legal disputes with Nexon.
Dungeon crawler Dark and Darker wins partial legal battle over Nexon, allowed to stay online
Dungeon crawler Dark and Darker has won a partial legal victory against Nexon, with the Korean supreme court ruling there was no copyright infringement related to Nexon's Project P3. This decision allows Dark and Darker to remain online and continue development, though its developer Ironmace still faces a continuing criminal case over alleged data transmission. While Ironmace had to pay for trade secret violations, the court's ruling provides legal certainty for the game's future.
South Korean Supreme Court orders Dark and Darker dev Ironmace to pay $3.84 million to Nexon
South Korean developer Ironmace has been ordered by the Supreme Court to pay Nexon 5.7 billion won ($3.84 million) in damages related to a civil case concerning alleged trade secret theft. While the civil case has concluded, a related criminal case regarding copyright and stolen trade secrets remains ongoing. The dispute stems from allegations that Ironmace's founding members, former Nexon employees, used proprietary information to develop the popular extraction game Dark and Darker.
Morning Legal Briefs
The game Dark and Darker has survived a copyright infringement lawsuit filed by Nexon in the Korean legal system. This ruling allows the game to continue its development.
After shaking off Nexon’s copyright infringement accusations, Dark and Darker survives the Korean legal system and will continue development
The Supreme Court of South Korea has rejected Nexon's copyright infringement allegations against Ironmace, allowing Dark and Darker to continue development. While Ironmace was ordered to pay 5.7 billion Korean Won for trade secret violations, this was a reduction from a previous ruling, and they received a partial refund. A criminal case between the two parties is still ongoing.
Dark And Darker Can "Move Ahead With Full Legal Certainty" After Court Ruling
Developer Ironmace can proceed with Dark and Darker development with legal certainty following a South Korean Supreme Court ruling that upheld a lower court's decision in a copyright dispute with Nexon. While the court found Ironmace infringed on trade secrets, it was not guilty of copyright infringement, and the developer's appeals were dismissed. This ruling ends the legal battle, allowing the game to continue its online service without threat of suspension.
Dark and Darker Dev Must Pay Nexon $4.3 Million After Korea Supreme Court Ruling | HappyGamer
South Korea's Supreme Court has ruled that IronMace, the developer of Dark and Darker, must pay Nexon approximately $4.3 million for trade secret infringement. While the court rejected Nexon's copyright infringement claims, the ruling on trade secrets stems from allegations that former Nexon employees took confidential information when forming IronMace. This verdict concludes a lengthy legal battle and sets a precedent for intellectual property disputes in the gaming industry.
Dark and Darker Season 9 Revamps Rogues, Rangers, and More
Ironmace has announced that Dark and Darker Season 9 will launch on April 28th, introducing new abilities and perks for Rogues and Rangers, alongside a rework of the Forgotten Castle environment. The Squire to Riches game mode has been transformed into a battle royale experience, with quality-of-life upgrades like a ping system and Party Finder also being implemented. The game is currently available in Early Access on PC via Steam.
Betawatch: Marathon and Equinox Homecoming both enter launch waters
Bungie's new game Marathon and Equinox Homecoming have launched this week, alongside other gaming news including AdventureQuest Worlds Infinity reaching a crowdfunding milestone. The article also provides updates on various games in beta testing and development, detailing their current status and upcoming plans.
Epic Games Store is giving away this $20 Very Positive rated fighting game
The Epic Games Store is offering the 2D fighting game Them's Fightin' Herds for free until March 13. Developed by Mane6 and published by Modus Games, the title features animal characters designed by Lauren Faust and has received a Very Positive rating on Steam for its fluid gameplay and online modes. This promotion is separate from Dark and Darker's removal from the store due to a legal dispute.
