In a recent development, the court has dismissed Nexon's lawsuit against Ironmace, the developer of the medieval looter game, Dark and Darker. Nexon had accused Ironmace of stealing code from a game they were developing together. The court ruled that Ironmace's game did not infringe on Nexon's copyright or trade secrets, rejecting the claims made by the publisher.

Ironmace's SDF, in a statement to players on the official Discord server, confirmed the dismissal of Nexon's request for an injunction on the grounds of "trade secret and copyright infringement". The court also determined that Dark and Darker's service should not be suspended solely based on Nexon's claims and evidence. This paves the way for a potential return of the game to the Steam platform.

SDF pointed out that Nexon did not present their own game, codenamed P3, as evidence in court, even though they alleged that Dark and Darker was developed using P3's code. However, SDF expressed disappointment over the court's decision regarding Nexon's unfair competition claim, as it was based on the limitations of evidence examination in the provisional injunction procedure.

Despite the legal battle, Dark and Darker is now back online, albeit in early access. Ironmace has taken the decision to create its own launcher, called Blacksmith, and sell the game directly from its website and via the digital storefront Chaf Games. This move allows Ironmace to continue offering the game to its dedicated player base.

Ironmace expressed gratitude to players worldwide for their support during this ordeal. They also reassured the community that they intend to invest and work hard to develop Dark & Darker into a long-lasting and successful game.

It is worth noting that Dark and Darker has also gained attention in the mobile gaming industry. PUBG: Battlegrounds publisher Krafton has acquired the rights to bring the RPG to mobile devices, praising Ironmace's unique creativity and recognizing the game's potential.

The court's decision brings a sigh of relief to Ironmace and allows them to move forward without the legal cloud hanging over their game. With their focus now solely on the development and growth of Dark and Darker, fans can look forward to an exciting future for this medieval looter.