KRAFTON has decided to change the brand name of "Dark and Darker Mobile," which is being developed using the intellectual property (IP) of Ironmace's "Dark and Darker." Recently, a first-instance ruling related to the "Dark and Darker" lawsuit between Nexon and Ironmace was made, leading to interpretations that this decision is not unrelated.
KRAFTON stated on the 26th that it plans to change the brand to one that is more suitable for the global launch environment for "Dark and Darker Mobile" and that it will disclose more details at an appropriate time before the launch.
There are interpretations that this brand name change is related to legal disputes, but KRAFTON has drawn a line on this matter. A KRAFTON official explained, "This decision is an independent decision unrelated to legal disputes or rulings, and there will be no changes to in-game content or systems."
KRAFTON emphasized that only the brand name will change, while the core elements of the game will remain the same as originally planned. They stated that they only borrowed the name from the original work, and that all graphics and resources are developed in-house, with no changes to the game's content.
There is also expected to be no change to the global launch schedule. KRAFTON aims for an official launch within the first half of this year and seeks to present it to users as soon as possible.
Additionally, the global licensing agreement for the mobile game IP of "Dark and Darker" between KRAFTON and Ironmace will be terminated by mutual agreement of both companies. A KRAFTON official stated, "We have had amicable discussions with Ironmace and will maintain a friendly relationship going forward."