Epic Games Store Announces Complete Removal of Dark and Darker from User Libraries on November 1, 2025
This announcement signifies the end of access to the game, meaning all games will no longer be accessible or playable in any form on this platform.
The above announcement was sent to users and Epic Games players via email, stating that the removal was due to a court ruling related to a legal dispute between the developer Ironmace and publisher Nexon.
Launched in 2023, Dark and Darker quickly gained popularity with its immersive gameplay that blends role-playing, action, and survival in a dark fantasy setting. The game focuses on the extraction mechanic – players must battle to collect loot and escape before being caught by various threats, all within a 10-layer dungeon environment. However, the game’s success was soon overshadowed by serious allegations from Nexon. According to this publisher, Ironmace had utilized stolen intellectual property, including source code and development materials from a project dubbed P3, which had not yet been officially released.
In the latest ruling, the court ordered Ironmace to pay approximately $5.7 million to Nexon for violating “trade secrets,” even though there were no grounds to enforce copyright infringement, as P3 had not yet been made public. This led to Epic’s decision to completely remove the game from the platform to avoid further legal risks. Effective immediately, Epic has halted all transactions related to Dark and Darker in their store, including the purchase of Redstone Shards (in-game currency) and Legendary Status – a premium membership for the game. Players who previously purchased Legendary Status will receive refunds through the original payment method, or if that’s not possible, the funds will be credited back to their Epic account. However, Epic has noted that refunds will not be issued for Redstone Shards due to legal complications and the nature of these virtual goods.
In a move that many gamers are lamenting, the removal of Dark and Darker – Legendary Status was part of Epic’s strategic decision to avoid any further complications. The game will be made available for free during the promotional period starting in December 2024, and potentially thousands of players will have had access to it in the store. Currently, there is no official information regarding whether the Dark and Darker version on Steam will also be removed from user libraries. However, the community is not ruling out the possibility that this situation could arise.
