Summary
Ironmace announced that it’s early access gameDark and Darkeris on its way to smartphones. The small studio has partnered withPUBGandMoonbreakerpublisher Kraftonto develop a mobile version of the dark fantasy multiplayer dungeon crawler.
Dark and Darkersees players searching for treasure in procedurally generated dungeons. It features PvPvE combat, roguelike elements, and a combination of extraction and battle royale gameplay. However, developer Ironmace is currently locked in a protracted legal battle withMaple Storypublisher Nexon, alleging that the indie studio stole assets from a canceled game calledP3. This resulted in the removal ofDark and Darker’s Steam page, though Ironmace is attempting to have it reinstated. While the US copyright case was dismissed, the struggle continues in Korean courts.
RELATED:Dark and Darker Lawsuit with Nexon Dismissed, but There’s a Catch
On August 24, Krafton issued a press release announcing that it received an exclusive license to develop a mobile game based onDark and Darker. “We’ve been watchingDark and Darker’s potentialand distinct creativity with great interest,” said Krafton’s Senior Head of Publishing, Rafael Lim. According to Lim, the company was very interested inDark and Darker’s setting and unique and innovative mix of genres. Krafton believes that Ironmace has hit on something special, and Lim says the publisher is excited to bringDark and Darkerto a whole new audience of mobile gamers.
Unfortunately, Krafton’s press release is pretty light on details and did not indicate when this mobile adaptation will come out or what players should expect when it does. Notably, the press release uses the word “adaptation” when discussingDark and Darker’s mobile release. At the risk of reading too much into exact phrasing, this could indicate that the mobile version will be a separate game rather than a direct port.
A potential parallel might be withPUBG: BattlegroundsandPUBG Mobile. While broadly similar, there are noticeable differences between the two games.PUBG Mobilefeatures simplified controls, smaller, less detailed maps, and less realistic graphics. The mobile game also features an auto-pickup feature, a redesigned interface, and additional audio-visual cues. These changes are necessary to makePUBGwork on Android and iOS but do noticeably change the experience. Also, while the PC and console version has its share of crossovers and special events,PUBG Mobilehas a lot more.
It seems reasonable to assume that at least some of these will also be true ofDark and Darker’s mobile version. However, it is far too early to make any serious predictions, and the new game likely isn’t even in development yet. In the meantime, the PC version ofDark and Darkeris now available in early access, provided players are willing to jump through a few hoops to get it.
Dark and Darkeris in early access on PC.
NEXT:Dark and Darker: Tips For Beginners
