The Epic Games Store has removed the free-to-play game "Dark and Darker" amidst an ongoing copyright dispute

Dark and Darker, a game initially available on the Epic Games Store starting March 2024, has been removed once more following an earlier debut a year ago.

The developer, Ironmace, states that the delisting arises from a continuing copyright legal battle with Nexon Games.

Despite this, both the free version, Dark and Dark, and the premium Dark and Darker: Legendary Status are accessible on Steam. Additionally, the premium version remains on the Epic Games Store.

Ironmace communicated to fans via Discord and explained, "Epic Games has opted to remove Dark and Darker from their store," as noted by PCGN.

According to Ironmace, the removal seems to be driven by claims from parties involved in the existing legal matter. They are investigating the reasons for this action.

The delisting process seems incomplete; the free version is absent, but Dark and Darker: Legendary Status still can be purchased, which might lead to some confusion.

Ironmace is exploring alternatives to maintain game access on Epic Games, assuring users they're working on solutions while apologizing for any inconvenience and promising future updates.

After its initial launch on Steam in February 2023, Dark and Darker faced removal due to allegations by Nexon, suggesting the game originated as their internal prototype, P3. Ironmace, primarily composed of ex-Nexon employees, was accused of using "stolen" materials to create the game.

In March 2023, Korean authorities searched Ironmace and confiscated materials associated with Dark and Darker. However, South Korean judicial authorities dismissed Nexon's temporary injunction against Ironmace in January 2024.