Is Dark And Darker Available On Steam?

With Dark and Darker recently released in Early Access, many players are eager to dive into this new dungeon adventure-extraction game. However, many gamers want to know where the game is available and if they can play Dark and Darker on Steam.

So if you have this same burning question and are considering getting into Dark and Darker, this guide is for you. Below we'll discuss whether Dark and Darker is currently available to play on Steam and where you can expect to find it once it releases fully. 

Can You Download Dark and Darker On Steam?

As mentioned earlier, Dark and Darker is now available for early access, but unfortunately, the game is not currently accessible on Steam. To purchase the game, players must do so either through the official Dark and Darker website or a Korean-based game-selling site known as Chaf Games. 

At the time of writing, the official website is experiencing issues, likely due to high traffic from eager players attempting to buy the game. Similarly, the purchase button on Chaf Games' listing for the game is not functioning. But if you want to give it a try, then head over to the official website. 

Originally, Dark and Darker was scheduled to release on Steam's early access earlier this year. However, it was removed from Steam's storefront due to a legal dispute between Nexon, a major Korean gaming company, and Ironmace, the developer of Dark and Darker. 

Nexon issued a DMCA takedown notice, alleging that Ironmace, comprising former Nexon developers, used code and assets from a canceled Nexon project to create Dark and Darker. Ironmace denies these accusations, and the legal proceedings are ongoing in the United States and Korea.

Given the unresolved legal situation preventing the game from being released on Steam, Ironmace has decided to create its launcher and directly sell the game. According to Onepeg, a YouTuber extensively covering the game and its legal battle (so much so that his name is in official court documents), Ironmace CEO Terence Park messaged the content creator to reveal that the game would launch on August 7 and provided other official details.

This announcement revealed that two editions of Dark and Darker would be available for purchase. The standard edition is priced at $35, while the "Hold the Line" Founder's Edition, priced at $50, includes an exclusive skeleton character skin, torch, and emote. Regardless of where the game is purchased, players will use the same servers and launcher.

A new progression system involves players earning a currency called Blue Shards for purchasing cosmetics, and buying the game grants players five of these Blue Shards immediately. Blue Shards can only be earned in gameplay, but players can also buy Red Shards with real money, which can also be used to unlock cosmetics. Some cosmetics will only be available through Blue Shards, and vice versa.

Despite the complexity surrounding the game's release, Dark and Darker experienced significant success during its last Steam playtest, becoming one of the most played games on the platform during Steam Next Fest, with over 110,000 concurrent players. The most recent playtest occurred in April after the game's removal from Steam, and Ironmace distributed Dark and Darker via torrent, which was still highly successful. 

Ultimately, Ironmace has publicly expressed its desire to "get back on Steam as quickly as possible." But for the moment, all we can do is patiently await the resolution of the situation. Once we have the outcome, you can expect to find comprehensive updates through this article, providing you with all the essential information you need to know.