Krafton Ends Deal with Ironmace, Dark and Darker Mobile to be Renamed
The mobile version of the popular dungeon crawler, Dark and Darker, is facing a significant shift. Krafton, the game's publisher, has announced it's terminating its agreement with developer Ironmace Studio, resulting in a name change for the mobile adaptation.
While Krafton claims the name change is unrelated to Ironmace's recent $6 million court loss to Nexon, the timing is highly suspicious. Nexon's lawsuit alleges Ironmace, founded by former Nexon employees, misappropriated trade secrets from a cancelled Nexon project (codenamed P3) to develop Dark and Darker.
Despite Krafton's assertions, the termination of the licensing agreement effectively makes the mobile release a standalone project. This means Dark and Darker Mobile (or its successor) will launch independently of Ironmace's involvement. The irony isn't lost on observers, considering Ironmace initially sued Nexon for copyright infringement.
The Future of Dark and Darker Mobile
Despite the upheaval, Krafton assures fans that the global launch date for the mobile game remains unchanged. However, the situation remains fluid, and any further developments will be reported. The hope is that the final product maintains the high quality observed in previous reviews. The legal battle between Nexon and Ironmace, and its impact on the mobile game's release, continues to unfold. This situation highlights the complexities of game development and intellectual property rights, particularly in the burgeoning mobile gaming market.
