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Party Composition Rule Update
From now on, each mode requires a full party to enter.
For example: Trio Dungeon can only be entered with a 3-player party. You must either form a full party manually or use random matchmaking to automatically fill your team with three players.
This change is intended to maintain the balance and intended experience of each mode. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in creating a fair and cooperative gameplay environment.
frail socket
@everyone, We will be deploying hotfix #98 starting at <t:1761213600>.
When the patch starts, you will not be able to log in to the game and players in-game will not be able to enter the matchmaking pool during this time.
Players in a match or in-game will have 40 minutes to complete their match and exit safely.
The server will return to full service 2 hours after the patch starts.
During maintenance, all services, including the website, may be temporarily suspended to update various servers.
Bugfixes:
Game Updates:
Balance Updates:
General
Item
Class
Developer Comments:
Get ready for some spooky adventures with the return of Jack o' Lantern. He’s back, looking for his delicious Candy Corn and is willing to reward you handsomely for their return.
This update also adds brand new shop items including a Halloween themed lantern and new cosmetics to really immerse you in the new Ship Graveyard map. Finally, the update brings numerous bug fixes and balance updates including greatly improved loot for the Frost Mountains. Thank you and see you in the dungeons!
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Unfortunately, we discovered an issue during the final checks, so the maintenance period will be extended by 2 hours. We apologize for the inconvenience.
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@everyone, The patch process is now complete. See you in the dungeons!
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Horseman’s Axe and Hatchet are larger than intended and will be adjusted in the next patch.
hasty rose
Hello @everyone
The first Dark and Darker Dungeon Rivals tournament Casted by @cloud geode @celest knoll @pulsar slate is live now!
This tournament will feature teams of two top North American players paired with one legendary creator to battle it out in the arena.
https://www.twitch.tv/ironmace__
🏆 The Teams
Team 1: Markstrom, Majora, ItsSolarBear
Team 2: GreekGodx, Y4mi, PartyChip
Team 3: Sequisha, Anugy, UrbanGent
Team 4: Pokelawls, Endboss, Katie
Team 5: Summit1G, Repoze, Promoz
Team 6: HunterPence, Ryan6DaysAWeek, SkinnyPete
Team 7: AnthonyKongphan, Pounder2, vApollo
Team 8: Blooprint, Redami, FoxManSlays
⚔️ The Arena
Dungeon Rivals will take place in the Arena with items up to Rare rarity!
💰 The Prizes
1st - $6,000
2nd - $4,000
3rd - $3,000
4th - $2,000
5th - 100 Redstone Shards
6th - 75 Redstone Shards
7th - 50 Redstone Shards
8th - 25 Redstone Shards
📺 Twitch Drops
Twitch Drops will be active on all participating tournament channels from Friday to Sunday while the tournaments are live.
For more information on participating channels, please keep an eye out for the tournament start announcements!
Drop Rewards:
5 Reward Tokens
3 Greater Luck Potions
2 Gold Pouches
5 Reward Tokens
5 Antiquated Coins
2 Gold Pouches
5 Antiquated Coins
Candy Cascade Emote
Drops Enabled Channels:
https://www.twitch.tv/summit1g
https://www.twitch.tv/markstrom
https://www.twitch.tv/sequisha
https://www.twitch.tv/hunterpence
https://www.twitch.tv/pokelawls
https://www.twitch.tv/ryan6daysaweek
https://www.twitch.tv/anthony_kongphan
https://www.twitch.tv/vapollodd
https://www.twitch.tv/foxmanslays
https://www.twitch.tv/itssolarbear
https://www.twitch.tv/katie
https://www.twitch.tv/majora
https://www.twitch.tv/partychip
https://www.twitch.tv/thekidneypounder
https://www.twitch.tv/promoz
https://www.twitch.tv/redami
https://www.twitch.tv/repoze
https://www.twitch.tv/skinnypete
https://www.twitch.tv/sobadstrange
https://www.twitch.tv/urbangent253
https://www.twitch.tv/y4mi
https://www.twitch.tv/anugy
https://www.twitch.tv/greekgodx
https://www.twitch.tv/onepeg
https://www.twitch.tv/theendboss
https://www.twitch.tv/vincennt
frail socket
The Hotfix #99 is scheduled to drop sometime on Friday, November 7 (UTC).
frail socket
@everyone, We will be deploying hotfix #99 starting at <t:1762518620>.
When the patch starts, you will not be able to log in to the game and players in-game will not be able to enter the matchmaking pool during this time.
Players in a match or in-game will have 40 minutes to complete their match and exit safely.
The server will return to full service 2 hours after the patch starts.
During maintenance, all services, including the website, may be temporarily suspended to update various servers.
Bugfixes:
Game Updates:
Balance Updates:
General
Items
Classes
Developer Comments:
You can now explore the dangerous seas of the Ship Graveyard in the ‘Squire to Riches’ and ‘High-Roller’ game modes while outlasting the treacherous ‘Drowned Curse’. This update also adds a more dangerous, but more rewarding ‘High-Roller Adventure’ PvE mode that can be accessed through the ‘High-Roller’ campaign book. Please note that the Goblin Merchant will not be able to recover any equipment lost in the High-Roller Adventure mode dungeons. The new modes also bring the addition of two new artifacts and a slew of new craft items. Thank you and have fun in the dungeons!
frail socket
Unfortunately, an issue was discovered during the patching process, and the maintenance is expected to be extended by approximately two hours. Sorry.
frail socket
@everyone, The patch process is now complete. See you in the dungeons!
frail socket
The number of players allowed to enter the Blue Maelstrom has been slightly reduced for each mode.
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The patch is scheduled to begin in about an hour and a half to two hours.
frail socket
@everyone, We will be deploying hotfix #100 starting at <t:1763640000>.
When the patch starts, you will not be able to log in to the game and players in-game will not be able to enter the matchmaking pool during this time.
Players in a match or in-game will have 40 minutes to complete their match and exit safely.
The server will return to full service 2 hours after the patch starts.
During maintenance, all services, including the website, may be temporarily suspended to update various servers.
Bugfixes:
Game Updates:
Balance Updates:
General
Items
Classes
Developer Comments:
This update looks to improve the overall player experience with several improvements under the hood to help you get into the dungeons quickly. We’ve improved the High-Roller matchmaking logic and reduced the CMM window so battles can ramp up more naturally. We have added a ‘quick fill’ function that makes it easier to quickly sell your plunder from the dungeons. We’ve added an indicator making it easier to identify items that are associated with your current quests. We’ve updated the helmets to be more flexible so that races with headgear restrictions can now equip certain headgear that make visual sense. We’ve improved swimming to make it a bit more comfortable when navigating the Ship Graveyard map. Finally, we’ve made several balance upgrades, networking improvements, and numerous bugs fixes to make the overall dungeons experience smoother. We will continue to focus on smoothing out the user experience as we build up to the next major update. Thank you and see you in the dungeons!
Missing from the patch notes:
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@everyone, The patch process is now complete. See you in the dungeons!
frail socket
The following changes have been applied to the test server. We expect this update to improve stability, and we would appreciate your thorough testing.
Changes:
frail socket
@everyone, We will be deploying hotfix #101 starting at <t:1764226800>.
When the patch starts, you will not be able to log in to the game and players in-game will not be able to enter the matchmaking pool during this time.
Players in a match or in-game will have 40 minutes to complete their match and exit safely.
The server will return to full service 2 hours after the patch starts.
During maintenance, all services, including the website, may be temporarily suspended to update various servers.
Bugfixes:
Game Updates:
Balance Updates:
General
Classes
Developer Comments:
This update continues our path on improving the player experience. We’ve made several performance optimizations that should lead to smoother in-game performance. We’ve updated the dungeons selection feature by giving HR adventurers the ability to choose their dungeons. We’ve also added a timer to the Quick Fill feature to reduce the accidental sale of valuables. We will continue to optimize and improve your experience in and out of the dungeons.
Finally, we’ve updated the store with new Black Friday discounts. Thank you and see you in the dungeons!
frail socket
Unfortunately, an issue occurred during the patch process, and it is expected to take some time to resolve. We will inform you of the exact time as soon as it is confirmed. Sorry.
frail socket
The issue has been identified, and the patch process is expected to be completed in about 2 3 hours from now.
frail socket
@everyone, The patch process is now complete. See you in the dungeons!
frail socket
@everyone, The following issues have been fixed through a non-disruptive patch. Please fully close and restart the game to automatically download the update and apply the changes properly.
Changes:
simple fog
@everyone, We will be deploying hotfix #102 starting at <t:1765260000>.
When the patch starts, you will not be able to log in to the game and players in-game will not be able to enter the matchmaking pool during this time.
Players in a match or in-game will have 40 minutes to complete their match and exit safely.
The server will return to full service 3 hours after the patch starts.
During maintenance, all services, including the website, may be temporarily suspended to update various servers.
Bugfixes:
Game Updates:
Balance Updates:
General
Classes
Developer Comments:
This update continues our quest to improve the overall performance of the game. We have upgraded the engine to Unreal 5.5 which should lead to more consistent framerates for the majority of users. We have also addressed numerous bugs and fixes to improve the overall experience.
Finally, we are planning to test a new Arena season with an updated policy. For the upcoming test season, all adventurers with an arena MMR higher than 2200 can only queue solo in order to ensure better integrity at the highest arena tiers. The gear policy will also be updated so that Arena item grade will be limited to Epic grade items instead of Legendary and only self-found items will remain upon a loss. We also have a plan for a special hardcore arena event at the very end of the season. We plan to use these remaining Arena test seasons to prepare for release of the official Arena season, including rewards, coming with the next wipe. Thank you and see you in the dungeons!
simple fog
@everyone, The patch process is now complete. See you in the dungeons!
frail socket
Sorry, We are currently reviewing a number of known issues that appeared after hotfix #102 and are preparing the corresponding fixes. It may take a little time, and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience. We appreciate your patience and will address them as quickly as possible.
frail socket
@everyone, We will be deploying hotfix #101 starting at <t:1765367100>.
When the patch starts, you will not be able to log in to the game and players in-game will not be able to enter the matchmaking pool during this time.
Players in a match or in-game will have 40 minutes to complete their match and exit safely.
The server will return to full service 2 hours after the patch starts.
During maintenance, all services, including the website, may be temporarily suspended to update various servers.
Bugfixes:
frail socket
@everyone, The patch process is now complete. See you in the dungeons!
frail socket
@everyone, We will be deploying hotfix #103 starting at <t:1766053800>.
When the patch starts, you will not be able to log in to the game and players in-game will not be able to enter the matchmaking pool during this time.
Players in a match or in-game will have 40 minutes to complete their match and exit safely.
The server will return to full service 2 hours after the patch starts.
During maintenance, all services, including the website, may be temporarily suspended to update various servers.
Bugfixes:
Game Updates:
Balance Updates:
General
Developer Comments:
Happy Holidays Adventurers!
This update brings festivities to the dungeon. But alas! Poor old Nicholas is nowhere to be seen! A new stranger has arrived in the tavern, ready to give out coal to those who have been naughty. For those who have been nice, we’ve updated the shop with holiday themed cosmetics to help you get in the mood. The release of the new holiday items also coincides with a winter discount for Legendary status. Finally, we’ve revealed the new Adventure Rank rewards, giving a hint of what’s to come with the next season, scheduled for January. Cheers and have a happy holidays!
frail socket
An issue was identified during maintenance, and the maintenance period is expected to be extended by approximately one hour. We apologize for the inconvenience.
frail socket
@everyone, The patch process is now complete. See you in the dungeons!
frail socket
@everyone, We will be deploying hotfix #104 starting at <t:1766475000>.
When the patch starts, you will not be able to log in to the game and players in-game will not be able to enter the matchmaking pool during this time.
Players in a match or in-game will have 40 minutes to complete their match and exit safely.
The server will return to full service 2 hours after the patch starts.
During maintenance, all services, including the website, may be temporarily suspended to update various servers.
Bugfixes:
Game Updates:
Balance Updates:
General
Developer Comments:
Happy Holidays Adventurers! This hotfix addresses critical bugs, crashes and addresses some of the frame stutters to ensure a smoother experience over the holidays. We look forward to the new year and we’ll be releasing more information for the upcoming season soon. We hope everyone enjoys their holidays and we hope to see you in the dungeons!
frail socket
@everyone, The patch process is now complete. See you in the dungeons!
frail socket
**대법원 상고에 대한 아이언메이스의 입장 **
아이언메이스는 오늘 항소심 판결에 대해 대법원에 상고장을 제출했으며, 그 배경과 입장을 Dark and Darker를 사랑해 주시는 모든 분들께 설명 드리고자 합니다.
항소심 법원은 Dark and Darker와 넥슨의 P3 게임을 상세히 비교한 결과, 양 게임은 본질적으로 다르며 아이언메이스가 넥슨의 게임 저작권을 침해하지 않았다는 점을 다시 한 번 명확히 판단하였습니다. 또한 제1심에서 인정되었던 배상액과 소송비용 부담 비율 역시 상당 부분 아이언메이스에 유리하게 조정되었습니다.
이에 따라 아이언메이스는 넥슨으로부터 34억 원을 즉시 반환받았으며, 넥슨이 게임 저작권과 게임 매출은 물론 임직원 개인 재산에 이르기까지 신청하였던 각종 가압류 조치 역시 모두 취소될 것으로 예상하고 있습니다.
과거 넥슨은 저를 해고한 직후, 이미 아이언메이스가 설립되기 이전부터 영업비밀 침해를 주장하며 저 개인을 상대로 민·형사상 법적 조치를 취하였습니다. Dark and Darker가 전 세계 이용자들의 주목을 받게 될 무렵 Dark and Darker가 넥슨은 돌연 P3 게임과 지나치게 유사하다는 의혹을 제기하며 Dark and Darker 서비스를 중단시키기 위해 아이언메이스와 Dark and Darker를 상대로 DMCA 게시중단 요청을 포함해 미국과 한국에서 가능한 모든 법적 수단을 동원하기 시작하였습니다.
아이언메이스는 설립 초기부터 넥슨과의 불필요한 오해를 방지하기 위해 타사의 영업비밀 침해 방지에 관한 안내와 교육을 실시하고 관련 서약서를 작성하는 등 임직원 그 누구도 넥슨의 영업비밀을 실수로라도 보유하거나 사용하지 않도록 최대한의 노력을 기울여 왔습니다. 동시에 기업과 전 종업원의 관계 속에서 의심과 오해가 발생할 수 있다는 점 또한 충분히 인지하고 있었기 때문에 근거 없는 의혹이 해소되기 위해 모든 수사 과정에 적극 협조하며 성실히 임해 왔습니다.
그 결과, Dark and Darker가 개발되는 동안 2022년 1월과 2023년 3월 두 차례에 걸쳐 진행된 압수수색, 국립과학수사연구원의 포렌식 분석 그리고 한국저작권위원회의 감정 결과에서 아이언메이스가 넥슨의 P3 게임 개발 자료를 보유하거나 사용하지 않았다는 사실만이 확인되었습니다.
가처분 법원과 수사기관, 그리고 제1심 법원 역시 모두 일관되게 아이언메이스가 넥슨의 자료를 사용하거나 보유한 사실이 없다고 판단하였습니다.
항소심 또한 아이언메이스가 넥슨의 자료를 실제로 사용했다는 객관적인 증거는 없다고 명확히 밝혔습니다. 그럼에도 불구하고, 퇴사 경위나 퇴사 이전의 업무 수행 방식 등 주변 정황에 기초한 추정만으로 영업비밀 침해를 인정한 판단에 대해서는 깊은 유감을 표하지 않을 수 없습니다.
Dark and Darker는 넥슨의 어떠한 자료나 정보도 사용하지 않고, 오로지 아이언메이스 개발자들의 피땀 어린 노력과 열정으로 만들어진 게임입니다. 또한 넥슨의 P3 게임을 비롯해 기존의 어떤 게임에서도 경험할 수 없었던 중세 판타지 FPS 익스트랙션 장르를 구현한, 아이언메이스만의 독창적인 창작물입니다.
아이언메이스는 Dark and Darker의 개발과정에 넥슨의 영업비밀이 사용되었다는 오해를 완전히 해소하여 개발자들의 열정과 노력이 부정되지 않도록 스스로의 정당성과 떳떳함을 끝까지 증명하기 위해 상고를 결정하였습니다.
아이언메이스는 대법원의 공정하고 신중한 재판을 통해 넥슨의 영업비밀을 침해하지 않았다는 실체적 진실이 밝혀질 것이라 확신합니다.
앞으로도 Dark and Darker를 사랑해 주시는 전 세계 이용자 여러분께 모든 개발 역량을 집중해 안정적이고 더 나은 서비스로 보답하겠습니다.
**IRONMACE’s Statement Regarding the Supreme Court Appeal **
IRONMACE has filed an appeal to the Supreme Court regarding the appellate court’s decision, and we would like to explain the background and our position to everyone who loves Dark and Darker.
After conducting a detailed comparison between Dark and Darker and Nexon’s P3 project, the appellate court clearly reaffirmed that the two games are fundamentally different and that IRONMACE did not infringe Nexon’s game copyrights. In addition, the amount of damages and the allocation of litigation costs recognized in the first trial were significantly adjusted in IRONMACE’s favor.
As a result, IRONMACE has received an immediate refund of 3.4 billion KRW in cash from Nexon, and all provisional seizure measures previously imposed by Nexon, including those covering game copyrights, game revenues, and even the personal assets of our employees, are in the process of being lifted.
When I was originally dismissed from Nexon, they immediately initiated civil and criminal legal actions of trade secret infringement against me on a personal level even before IRONMACE ever existed. More than a year later, when Dark and Darker began to attract global attention, Nexon suddenly alleged that the game was excessively similar to its P3 project and, in an effort to halt the service of Dark and Darker, began mobilizing all available legal measures in both Korea and the United States, including DMCA takedown requests against IRONMACE and Dark and Darker.
From the very beginning, IRONMACE has made every effort to prevent unnecessary misunderstandings with Nexon. Since I was already under an active investigation prior to the start of the company, I made sure that this included providing guidance and training on the prevention of trade secret infringement, as well as requiring relevant written commitments, to ensure that no employee would possess or use Nexon’s trade secrets, even inadvertently. At the same time, fully recognizing that suspicions and misunderstandings can arise in the relationship between a company and its former employees, IRONMACE actively cooperated with all investigative procedures and participated in good faith so that unfounded allegations could be properly resolved.
As a result, through two rounds of search and seizure conducted in January 2022 and March 2023 during the development of Dark and Darker, as well as forensic analyses by the National Forensic Service and evaluations by the Korea Copyright Commission, it was confirmed that IRONMACE neither possessed nor used any development materials from Nexon’s P3 project.
The injunction court, investigative authorities, and the court of first instance all consistently determined that IRONMACE did not possess or use Nexon’s materials.
The appellate court likewise clearly stated that there was no objective evidence showing that IRONMACE actually used Nexon’s materials. Nevertheless, we cannot help but express deep regret over the decision to recognize trade secret infringement based solely on speculative inferences drawn from surrounding circumstances, such as the circumstances of resignation and the manner in which work was performed prior to resignation.
Dark and Darker was developed without using any materials or information from Nexon and was created solely through the dedication, passion, and hard work of IRONMACE’s developers. It is a truly original creation of IRONMACE, realizing a medieval fantasy FPS extraction genre experience that could not be found in Nexon’s P3 project or in any other existing games.
IRONMACE has decided to pursue this appeal in order to fully dispel any misunderstanding that Nexon’s trade secrets were used in the development of Dark and Darker, and to ensure that the passion and efforts of our developers are not unjustly discredited by proving our legitimacy and integrity to the very end.
IRONMACE is confident that, through the Supreme Court’s fair and careful adjudication, the substantive truth that IRONMACE did not infringe Nexon’s trade secrets will be clearly established.
Going forward, IRONMACE will continue to devote all of its development capabilities to providing stable and improved service to players around the world who love Dark and Darker.
simple fog
@everyone, We will be deploying a service patch related to a database issue starting at <t:1766986200>.
Once the patch begins, you will be unable to log in to the game, and players who are already in-game will not be able to enter the matchmaking pool.
Players currently in a match will have 40 minutes to complete their game and exit safely.
Full server functionality is expected to resume about one hour after the patch begins.
simple fog
@everyone, The patch process is now complete. See you in the dungeons!
simple fog
@everyone, We will be deploying hotfix #105 starting at <t:1767853800>.
When the patch starts, you will not be able to log in to the game and players in-game will not be able to enter the matchmaking pool during this time.
Players in a match or in-game will have 40 minutes to complete their match and exit safely.
The server will return to full service 2 hours after the patch starts.
During maintenance, all services, including the website, may be temporarily suspended to update various servers.
Bugfixes:
Game Updates:
Balance Updates:
General
Classes
Druid
Developer Comments:
The start of Early Access Season 8 is now scheduled for January 29, 2026. This hotfix addresses several bugs in preparation for the upcoming seasonal wipe. Please note that the current Arena season will end on January 19. On January 23rd to the 26th, we plan to hold a special ‘Hardcore’ Arena season, that remove the item grade restrictions. We hope to see this event as the ultimate test of showcasing your power and riches. Thank you and see you in the dungeons.
frail socket
@everyone, The patch process is now complete. See you in the dungeons!
simple fog
@everyone, We will be deploying hotfix #106 starting at <t:1769061600>.
When the patch starts, you will not be able to log in to the game and players in-game will not be able to enter the matchmaking pool during this time.
Players in a match or in-game will have 40 minutes to complete their match and exit safely.
The server will return to full service 2 hours after the patch starts.
During maintenance, all services, including the website, may be temporarily suspended to update various servers.
Bugfixes:
Game Updates:
Developer Comments:
This update prepares for the Hardcore Arena event. The Hardcore Arena event will take place from January 23 to January 26. This is the final Test Arena Season, which we are using to collect data. We expect future Arena seasons to no longer have the ‘Test’ moniker and will proceed normally with a standard reward system. Participation is limited to pre-made parties of three players, and no monsters will appear on any map. There are no item entry restrictions, and defeated teams will lose all of their items.
Please note that the purchase price of the Redstones will be adjusted with the upcoming Season. Please check our website and news for more details Thank you and see you in the dungeons!
simple fog
@everyone, The patch process is now complete. See you in the dungeons!
hasty rose
@everyone
Season 8 is just around the corner!
Dark and Darker Season 8 descends into the depths of Firedeep!
Firedeep is inhabited by savage lava creatures and heavily armed dwarf miners who have carved their stronghold into the rock. Tight corridors and hazardous terrain leave little room for error as adventurers push deeper into the inferno.
Season 8 also delivers a broad combat refresh, an expanded Ruins, a quiver, and much more!
Enter the Firedeep January 29th 🌋
frail socket
@everyone, We will be deploying Season #8 starting at <t:1769688000>.
When the patch starts, you will not be able to log in to the game and players in-game will not be able to enter the matchmaking pool during this time.
Players in a match or in-game will have 40 minutes to complete their match and exit safely.
The server will return to full service 5 hours after the patch starts.
During maintenance, all services, including the website, may be temporarily suspended to update various servers.
Bugfixes:
Game Updates:
Balance Updates:
General
Class
Fighter
Barbarian
Warlock
Cleric
Druid
Bear
Panther
Chicken
Penguin
Sorcerer
Item
Developer Comments:
Welcome to EA Season #8. All character levels, items, stashes, inventory, reward tokens, karma, quests, affinity, and triumph levels have been reset. This season brings several large new features.
Due to the massive amount of changes we foresee a period of continual adjustments early on in the season to get the balance to feel just right. We will remain vigilant and look forward to your feedback during this period.
We have also decided to start this season with an extended three-week ‘Solo Self Found’ event based on the positive response from the previous season. This means that the Trading Post and Marketplace will not open until February 20, 2026. In the lead up to that date, we will be running a Twitch Drops Campaign from January 30 to February 19, 2026. Due to the large number of combat changes, we’ll be opening the Arenas early, for a short preseason starting on January 30, 2026 and use the resulting data to help fine-tune the balance before the launch of the official Arena season starting on February 20, 2026. The Arenas will be limited to ‘Epic’ grade items and you will not lose your gear upon a loss.
Finally, be sure to collect your ‘EAS 8 Welcome Delivery’ pack from the Expressman’s ‘Post Express’ service tab to help you start the season off with a bang. We thank you and see you in the dungeons!
hasty rose
Start the season on fire with the Seasonal Pack!
This new pack delivers lasting value with two permanent, high-quality cosmetics and a Seasonal Shared Stash to keep things hot 🔥
Permanent Firedeep Themed Cosmetics 🌋
-Molten Heart (Soulheart Skin)
-Emberforge Hall (Lobby Skin)
Seasonal Limited items
-1x Shared Stash Tab
-1x Gold Pouch
-12x Bandage Stacks
-12x Potion of Healing Stacks
-12x Potion of Protection Stacks
-12x Magic Protection Potion Stacks
-12x Lockpick Stacks
Welcome to Early Access Season 8!
-Get the Seasonal Pack on here: https://store.steampowered.com/app/4317300/Dark_and_Darker__EA8_Seasonal_Pack/
-Watch the Trailer on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/AsA54N69LaY
Thank you for your patience and support!
Welcome to the Firedeep 🌋
simple fog
Unfortunately, the maintenance will be extended by approximately one hour. We are truly sorry.
frail socket
@everyone, The patch process is now complete. See you in the dungeons!
Sorry, We are currently experiencing a temporary connectivity issue and expect service to return to normal shortly. Thank you for your understanding.
frail socket
@everyone, Unfortunately, we have identified a critical issue and will be entering maintenance immediately. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Players in a match or in-game will have 40 minutes to complete their match and exit safely.
The server will return to full service 20 mins after the patch starts.
During maintenance, all services, including the website, may be temporarily suspended to update various servers.
frail socket
We have identified a bug that allowed players to gain unintended benefits, and we have confirmed that some users deliberately exploited this issue.
While we understand that curiosity or temptation can arise in situations like this, exploiting a bug is a clear violation of our User Agreement. Players agreed to these rules, and choosing not to exploit was always an available option, even if the bug itself was our mistake.
To avoid setting a harmful precedent and to uphold fairness for all players, we will be taking action against accounts that exceeded the threshold of exploitation. Penalties will be applied fairly and consistently based on the severity of abuse, as determined by our logs.
The enforcement criteria are as follows:
We care deeply about our players, and these decisions are never made lightly. However, protecting those who exploited the bug would ultimately harm fair and honest players. Upholding the rules is our responsibility, and maintaining a fair environment is more important than short-term convenience.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support.
@everyone, The patch process is now complete. See you in the dungeons!
simple fog
@everyone, We will be deploying hotfix #107 starting at <t:1770283800>.
When the patch starts, you will not be able to log in to the game and players in-game will not be able to enter the matchmaking pool during this time.
Players in a match or in-game will have 40 minutes to complete their match and exit safely.
The server will return to full service 2 hours after the patch starts.
During maintenance, all services, including the website, may be temporarily suspended to update various servers.
Bugfixes:
Game Updates:
Balance Updates:
General
Classes
Fighter
Barbarian
Sorcerer
Bard
Ranger
Items
Developer Comments:
This hotfix brings several bug fixes and balancing changes to help smooth some of the bumps from the recent major update. The initial response to the update has been great and we look at this as a good foundation to build upon. We are working hard to get more features before the end of the month including the highly anticipated Workshop feature. We thank you for your patience and see you in the dungeons!
simple fog
Due to a delay in the build deployment process, the maintenance time will be extended by approximately 30 minutes.
We apologize for the inconvenience.
simple fog
@everyone, The patch process is now complete. See you in the dungeons!
simple fog
@everyone, We will be deploying hotfix #108 starting at <t:1770879600>.
When the patch starts, you will not be able to log in to the game and players in-game will not be able to enter the matchmaking pool during this time.
Players in a match or in-game will have 40 minutes to complete their match and exit safely.
The server will return to full service 2 hours after the patch starts.
During maintenance, all services, including the website, may be temporarily suspended to update various servers.
Bugfixes
Game Updates
Balance Updates
General
Classes
Fighter
Barbarian
Warlock
Sorcerer
Items
Developer Comments:
This update continues to polish the new economy and game balance. We’ve made several changes to make it easier for players to manage their gold. We’ve also adjusted the quest system to make progress smoother and more accessible. In addition, we’ve updated the availability and prices of items that unlock at the Merchants to better align with the new economy. These updates are to foster a bustling economy once the Marketplace and Workshop open in the upcoming weeks.
This update also prepares for the launch of the first official Arena season, scheduled to commence on February 20, 2026. Please note that due to these preparations, the Arena will not be available during this upcoming weekend. This Arena season will be the first time that competitors can earn rewards for their accounts, which will be revealed later this season. As always, we will continue to polish and balance the combat based on your feedback. We thank you and see you in the dungeons!
simple fog
@everyone, The patch process is now complete. See you in the dungeons!
crude otter
@everyone, We will be deploying a quick hotfix #108-1 starting at <t:1770969600> to address an issue with the Goblin Merchant quest not properly appearing.
When the patch starts, you will not be able to log in to the game and players in-game will not be able to enter the matchmaking pool during this time.
Players in a match or in-game will have 40 minutes to complete their match and exit safely.
The server will return to full service 1 hour after the patch starts.
Bugfixes
crude otter
@everyone, The patch process is now complete. See you in the dungeons!
simple fog
@everyone, The first Arena season will begin starting this weekend.
Based on your performance during this Arena season, you will earn a special border you can show off for the following season that represents your previous season's accomplishments.
All Arena players that reach the minimum rank of 'Veteran' will also receive the seasonal cosmetic Arena reward which will be revealed later.
To make this Arena season more accessible, we've updated the rules as follows:
Thank you and we hope you enjoy this Arena season!
simple fog
@everyone, We will be deploying hotfix #109 starting at <t:1772091000>.
When the patch starts, you will not be able to log in to the game and players in-game will not be able to enter the matchmaking pool during this time.
Players in a match or in-game will have 40 minutes to complete their match and exit safely.
The server will return to full service 2 hours after the patch starts.
During maintenance, all services, including the website, may be temporarily suspended to update various servers.
Bugfixes
Game Updates
Balance Updates
General
Classes
Druid
Items
Developer Comments
Hi Adventurers, This update focuses on streamlining the player experience. We’ve added more “quality of life” features related to the quest system along with making several quests more accessible. We’ve also improved the Goblin Recovery system so he’ll hold onto recovered items for a slightly longer time, which should reduce the missed chances of lost items.
In addition to the QoL features, we’ve also upped the tension in the dungeons. Adventurers will now need to open the portcullis to the red stairs down a level, and the gates will automatically close after a short time. We’ve also updated the static pedestal portals so they will automatically close after a short duration if they are not used and must be re-activated for an escape.
To counter the increased risks, we’ve made some improvements to the rewards from the dungeons. The Secret Key Rooms and Dual Boss rooms now give improved loot from their treasure hoards, including the chance to obtain artifacts in the High-Roller modes. We’ve also improved the utility of Unique grade gems as they are required for the highest-end craft items and also have plans for them with the upcoming Workshop feature, which will be rolled-out with the next update. We hope you enjoy these changes and we look forward to seeing you in the dungeons!
crude otter
@everyone, we apologize but the maintenance will be extended as we investigate an infrequent but critical issue that affects the play experience. We will give an update once we have a timeline on the issue.
simple fog
@everyone, The patch process is now complete. See you in the dungeons!
simple fog
@everyone, A client-side patch has just been completed with no downtime.
If your movement stops when you press the Tab key, please update the game again.
(For Steam users, restarting your Steam launcher may be required to update.)
Sorry for the inconvenience. See you in the dungeons!
frail socket
We want to acknowledge the concerns that have been circulating in the community.
We are currently investigating a potential issue that could affect the integrity of the game. At this point it is still too early to determine whether any actual impact occurred, and we do not want to jump to conclusions before the investigation is complete.
As a precaution, we implemented preventive measures several days ago while we began looking into the situation more closely. Since then we have been reviewing a wide range of related systems and data to understand what may have happened and whether any further action is needed.
Because we wanted to first secure the situation and investigate carefully, this message is coming later than we would have liked. We understand that the lack of information may have caused concern, and we apologize for the delay.
We will continue investigating and will share more details as soon as we have a clearer understanding of the situation. When we have confirmed information, we will communicate it transparently with the community.
Thank you for your patience while we work through this.
frail socket
@everyone, We will be deploying hotfix #110 starting at <t:1772789400>.
When the patch starts, you will not be able to log in to the game and players in-game will not be able to enter the matchmaking pool during this time.
Players in a match or in-game will have 40 minutes to complete their match and exit safely.
The server will return to full service 2 hours after the patch starts.
During maintenance, all services, including the website, may be temporarily suspended to update various servers.
Detailed patch notes will be shared soon.
frail socket
Starting late last month, a very small group of bad actors utilized a customized vulnerability package to spoof restricted functionality within a game session, this allowed the duplication of multiple filled Gold Coin Chests.
Our internal warning system alerted us to these suspicious patterns over the holiday weekend here in Korea, prompting an emergency investigation into the attack.
The most egregious actors were immediately identified and banned, and a full forensic investigation was initiated to decipher the exploit. Our additional monitoring systems did not indicate a wide proliferation of the exploit, therefore we chose to delay an announcement to fully assess the impact and spread of the exploit to increase our chances of capturing all the perpetrators.
Our investigation shows that this exploit was an isolated exploit that required an external hack, greatly limiting its dissemination to the wider community.
The group then leveraged several vulnerable points in the game economy to launder their ill-gotten gains. They did this by specifically targeting several high-value commodity items, such as the Spectral Coin Bag, Spectral Fabric, Troll Pelt (and several other smaller items that weren’t as effective for them), that are linked directly to the highest-end economy.
Once the prices started to skyrocket on these particular items in the market, this influenced a panic run from legitimate buyers, causing a feedback loop that exacerbated the excessive price inflation on these items.
Although we banned the most obvious exploiters, we needed additional time to search for other accomplices and to filter out the legitimate buyers.
Now that the investigation has been completed, we have decided on the following actions:
This issue also alerted us to a slight bug in the drop rate for the Troll Pelt where it was generated at the same rate for all game modes (10% for all modes). We’ve updated it so the rates are now distributed based on the risk of the game mode (PvE – 5%, Normal,S2R-10%, HR-20%).
We thank you for your patience during our investigation into this attack. We apologize for taking so long, but it was important to make sure we collected all the evidence to correctly assess the impact and prevent acting too rashly. We note that we may have erred on the side of caution this time and underestimated the speed and spread of false rumors. We hope that this report will help put to rest some of the crazier conspiracy theories and help restore your trust in the market.
Thank you and see you in the dungeons!
Bugfixes
Game Updates
Balance Updates
General
Classes
Fighter
Rogue
Barbarian
Wizard
Druid
Items
Developer Comments
This update launches the all new Workshop feature that lets Adventurers extract more value from their less successful dungeon dives. Workshops convert unwanted gear into scraps that can be utilized to enhance or rebuild the gear they actually cherish. Scraps can even be used in to craft completely new random gear. We hope the Workshop works as a nice counterbalance to help stabilize the current economy.
This update also introduces our first batch of weapon cosmetics with the launch of the ‘Emberflame’ series. The ‘Emberflame’ skins add a fiery flick of lava to some of our most popular weapons. We plan to continually expand this system and branch out to more weapons in the future.
Finally, please note that Valentine’s temporary sojourn at the tavern will be ending soon. We highly recommend spending all remaining rewards from the Valentine event before his farewell, coming with the next major hotfix. As always, we thank you for your support and we’ll see you in the dungeons!
crude otter
@everyone, we apologize but the maintenance will be extended as we investigate an issue with the workshop. We will give an update once we have a timeline on the issue.
hasty rose
This patch comes along with some fiery new cosmetics, including the Emberflame series, our very first weapon cosmetics.
The Emberflame weapon skins transform the appearance of the weapon and the effect is upgraded based on item rarity.
As the rarity increases, glowing fissures spread and molten veins intensify across the weapon.
We hope you enjoy them 🔥
simple fog
@everyone, All issues have been fixed and we are currently performing final tests. The maintenance is expected to finish around <t:1772805600>.
Thank you for your patience.
frail socket
@everyone, The patch process is now complete. See you in the dungeons!
simple fog
@everyone, We will be deploying hotfix #110-1 starting at <t:1773214200>.
This is a server-side patch for service stability. No client update is required.
When the patch starts, you will not be able to log in to the game and players in-game will not be able to enter the matchmaking pool during this time.
Players in a match or in-game will have 40 minutes to complete their match and exit safely.
The server will return to full service 2 hours after the patch starts.
During maintenance, all services, including the website, may be temporarily suspended to update various servers.
simple fog
@everyone, The patch process is now complete. See you in the dungeons!
simple fog
For players that had problems connecting to the game through Steam in the last hour or so, please try again.
Our monitoring showed that there were some external connection issues that appear to be resolved now.
simple fog
@everyone, We will be deploying hotfix #111 starting at <t:1773979200>.
When the patch starts, you will not be able to log in to the game and players in-game will not be able to enter the matchmaking pool during this time.
Players in a match or in-game will have 40 minutes to complete their match and exit safely.
The server will return to full service 3 hours after the patch starts.
During maintenance, all services, including the website, may be temporarily suspended to update various servers.
Bugfixes
Game Updates
Balance Updates
General
Classes
Sorcerer
Druid
Barbarian
Items
Developer Comments
This hotfix brings several improvements based directly on community feedback including fixes to the Workshop feature, the Emberflame skins, and overall game balance.
The initial launch of the Workshop had some rough edges, and we’ve made some quick adjustments based on your feedback. We’ve streamlined upgrading your workshops by reducing much of the mindless upgrade requirements. We’ve also made it much easier to scrap your items by allowing you to scrap at any of your workshops, once an item type has been unlocked. The maximum stack count for scraps in your inventory has also been increased from 20->50 to better handle all your new scraps.
We’ve started work to better differentiate the various services at the Workshops. The ‘Workshop-Enhance’ service has been improved so it no longer re-rolls all the modifiers on an item. Instead, enhancing an item at a workshop simply adds a new random modifier while maintaining the previous attributes. Enhancing an item from Legendary to Unique grade randomly selects a single modifier from the currently attached pool and rerolls a ‘unique’ value.
The prices for the services have also been significantly rebalanced based on changes in the game economy and the newly improved functionality. We had originally set high workshop service costs to counter some of the high gold inflation in the economy when the feature launched. However, the gold sink has caused heavier than expected deflationary pressures on the marketplace. We’ve significantly decreased the gold costs and have instead adjusted the material costs to better encourage gold flow into the markets.
This update also sees the expansion of the Emberflame skins to cover more popular weapons including the Bardiche, Longbow, Arming Sword, and more. These new skins are also available for purchase in special bundles that include an introductory bundle discount. We’ve also improved the functionality of the skins so that the glowing visual effect turns off when crouching or slow walking in the dungeons, allowing you to stay hidden in the dark.
Finally, this update includes many balance improvements asked for by the community including increased session times for certain maps and a rework of the Banshee. Be on the lookout for this season’s Adventure and Arena rank rewards in the next update. This should give adventurers enough time to grind out their ranks before the end of the season at the end of April. As always, thank you and see you in the dungeons!
simple fog
@everyone, The patch process is now complete. See you in the dungeons!
Known Issue (After Patch)
We are sorry about these bugs and we’ll fix it as soon as we can.
simple fog
@everyone, We will be deploying hotfix #111-1 starting at <t:1774418400>.
When the patch starts, you will not be able to log in to the game and players in-game will not be able to enter the matchmaking pool during this time.
Players in a match or in-game will have 40 minutes to complete their match and exit safely.
The server will return to full service 2 hours after the patch starts.
During maintenance, all services, including the website, may be temporarily suspended to update various servers.
Bugfixes
Game Updates
simple fog
@everyone, The patch process is now complete. See you in the dungeons!
simple fog
@everyone, We will be deploying hotfix #112 starting at <t:1775192400>.
When the patch starts, you will not be able to log in to the game and players in-game will not be able to enter the matchmaking pool during this time.
Players in a match or in-game will have 40 minutes to complete their match and exit safely.
The server will return to full service 2 hours after the patch starts.
During maintenance, all services, including the website, may be temporarily suspended to update various servers.
Bugfixes:
Game Updates:
Balance Updates:
General
Classes
Fighter
Barbarian
Warlock
Sorcerer
Items
Developer Comments
We are happy to announce the date for the upcoming season.
Early Access Season #9 will start on April 28, 2026.
Adventurers will have up until April 27th to progress through the Adventure Ranks and earn the newly revealed seasonal rewards.
April 27th will also be the final day to earn your rewards from the ‘Religion' offerings.
Arena combatants will have until April 19th to finalize their Arena MMR and earn rewards based on their final rank.
For the remaining Arena weekends, we’ve updated the matchmaking system to make it more lenient for friends to form teams.
We’ve also updated the Arena Warlord leaderboard to remove duplicate characters to give a more accurate account of the top players.
We also have several events planned as we approach the end of this season.
Starting on April 16 we’ll introduce some limited time changes that really ramp up the riches in the dungeons.
We’ll also be opening the Arena mode for the final week of the season with upgraded gear limits so you can put those newfound riches to use.
In the meantime, this update brings some changes to the current Squires to Riches (S2R) mode in preparation for further strengthening its role as a battle mode.
We’ll be looking at your feedback as we continue to adjust the balance and mold it into its own standalone mode.
Thank you and see you in the dungeons!
simple fog
@everyone, The patch process is now complete. See you in the dungeons!
simple fog
@everyone, We will be deploying hotfix #112-1 starting at <t:1775714400>.
When the patch starts, you will not be able to log in to the game and players in-game will not be able to enter the matchmaking pool during this time.
Players in a match or in-game will have 40 minutes to complete their match and exit safely.
The server will return to full service 2 hours after the patch starts.
During maintenance, all services, including the website, may be temporarily suspended to update various servers.
Bugfixes
Game Updates
Balance Updates
General
Classes
Fighter
Bard
Cleric
simple fog
@everyone, The patch process is now complete. See you in the dungeons!
simple fog
@everyone, We will be deploying hotfix #113 starting at <t:1776322800>.
When the patch starts, you will not be able to log in to the game and players in-game will not be able to enter the matchmaking pool during this time.
Players in a match or in-game will have 40 minutes to complete their match and exit safely.
The server will return to full service 2 hours after the patch starts.
During maintenance, all services, including the website, may be temporarily suspended to update various servers.
Bugfixes:
Game Updates:
Known Issue:
Developer Comments
Hi Adventurers, Welcome to the end of season update! We have several events as we celebrate the end of a successful season and look forward to a new start on April 28.
On April 17 – 19 we will be hosting the Warlord Tournament, where the best competitors from this Arena season will duke it out for glory. Join us on Twitch and YouTube to support your favorite gladiators.
Once the current Arena Season ends on April 19, The non-ranked Arena will be accessible every day until April 25. All entry gear restrictions will be removed, and no items will be lost on death during this Arena event.
We’ve boosted the drop rates for the dungeons for a last hurrah in the dungeons before the start of the next season. Artifact drop rates have been doubled in High-Roller dungeons. We’ve improved the drop rates from the Golden Chests, Lion's Head Chests, Treasure hoards, mid-bosses, and Bosses. We’ve also improved drop rates for hunting loots.
Finally, we’ve doubled the Adventure Points values of everything in the dungeons to help with a final boost in climbing the Adventure Ranks.
We thank you for your awesome support throughout this season and we look forward to maintaining this momentum as we charge ahead with EA Season 9.
Thank you and see you in the dungeons!
simple fog
@everyone, The patch process is now complete. See you in the dungeons!
simple fog
The following policy has been applied without downtime.
frail socket
우리의 법정 소송과 관련해 플레이어 여러분께 직접 공유드릴 내용이 있습니다.
4월 30일, 넥슨과 진행 중인 민사소송의 대법원 선고가 예정되어 있습니다. 이 날 사건의 최종 판단이 내려질 예정입니다.
현재까지의 재판 경과를 간단히 말씀드리면, 저작권 측면에서는 1심과 2심 모두 두 게임이 다르며 침해가 없다고 판단되었습니다.
다만 영업비밀과 관련해서는 1심에서 ‘기억에 의한 영업비밀 정보의 침해’가, 2심에서 ‘유출된 영업비밀 자료의 사용’이 인정되었습니다. 다만 2심 판단은 구체적인 사용 증거가 아니라 정황에 근거한 판단이었습니다.
오랫동안 여론의 중심에는 우리가 “사익을 위해 프로젝트를 훔쳐 창업했다”는 이야기가 있었고, 우리가 왜 넥슨을 떠나 직접 게임을 만들기로 했는지에 대한 설명은 충분히 전달되지 못했다고 생각합니다.
우리는 그동안 당시 환경에서는 P3 프로젝트를 책임 있게 지속하기 어렵다고 판단한 배경에, 프로젝트에 대한 지원 부족과 운영 방식에 대한 문제의식이 있었다고 설명해왔습니다. 그러나 이를 객관적으로 보여줄 근거를 제시하기는 어려웠습니다.
최근, 이러한 맥락을 확인할 수 있는 판결이 있었습니다.
https://www.donga.com/news/It/article/all/20260424/133804774/1
https://m.naeil.com/news/read/586522?ref=naver
https://www.newslock.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=129217
해당 판결에서는 육아휴직 후 복귀한 인력을 장기간 대기 상태로 두고, P3 프로젝트에 지원하여 면접을 거쳐 팀의 수용 의사가 있었음에도 실제 배치를 하지 않은 인사 조치는 법적으로 문제가 있다고 판단되었습니다.
당시 P3 프로젝트는 팀원 20여 명 중 기획자가 한 명뿐일 정도로 기획 인력이 부족했습니다. 해당 지원자는 프로젝트 참여에 문제가 없는 평가를 받고 있었고, 내부 절차에 따라 P3 프로젝트에 지원했습니다. 저 역시 프로젝트 진행에 필요하다고 판단해 여러 차례 합류를 요청했습니다.
저는 당시 프로젝트에 대한 지원 방식에 의문을 가지고 있었고, 이 인사 결정은 그 판단을 확신하게 만든 계기였습니다. 저는 이러한 인사 결정이 프로젝트 운영 측면에서도, 개인에 대한 처우 측면에서도 적절하지 않다고 판단했습니다.
이 상태로는 P3 프로젝트를 책임 있게 지속하는 것이 맞지 않다고 보았고, 결국 회사를 떠나기로 결심했습니다.
이번 판결은 영업비밀 문제에 대한 직접적인 판단은 아니지만, 당시 제가 왜 P3 프로젝트를 책임 있게 지속하기 어렵다고 판단했는지를 객관적으로 보여주는 사실관계를 확인해 주었다는 점에서 의미가 있다고 생각합니다.
또한 2심 선고 이후 종결된 관련 형사 수사에서는, 국립과학수사연구원과 한국저작권위원회의 감정 결과를 포함해 자료의 사용 및 침해가 확인되지 않았고, 해당 부분은 불기소 처분되었습니다. 우리는 이러한 감정 결과를 대법원에 제출하였고, 법원의 판단을 기다리고 있습니다.
제가 넥슨을 떠나 새로운 게임, Dark and Darker를 개발하기로 결심하면서도 P3 프로젝트의 자료나 영업비밀에 의존하지 않고 새롭게 개발하고자 했다는 점은 당시 P3 팀원들의 일관된 진술과 아이언메이스 설립 과정에서 촬영된 영상에도 기록되어 있고 이 또한 모두 제출되어 있습니다.
4월 30일, 어떤 판결이 나오게 될지는 알 수 없습니다.
다만 우리에게 타 사의 영업비밀 자료를 부정하게 사용하려는 의도가 전혀 없었고, Dark and Darker를 스스로 직접 만들어왔다는 사실은 변함이 없습니다.
판결 결과와 관련된 사항은 확인되는 대로 플레이어 여러분께 공유드리겠습니다.
늘 게임이 아닌 문제로 피로감을 드리게 되어 죄송합니다. 더 나은 게임을 만들고 발전시켜, 플레이어 여러분이 즐거운 추억을 쌓을 수 있도록 앞으로도 온 힘을 다하겠습니다.
@everyone, There is something I would like to share directly with our players regarding our legal dispute.
On April 30, the Supreme Court of Korea is scheduled to issue its ruling in the civil lawsuit currently ongoing between Nexon and us. This ruling is expected to be the final judgment in this case.
To briefly summarize the proceedings so far, both the first and second instance courts found, from a copyright perspective, that the two games are different and that there was no infringement.
However, with respect to trade secrets, the first instance court recognized “infringement of trade secret information based on memory,” and the second instance court recognized “use of leaked trade secret materials.” That said, the second instance judgment was not based on confirmed, specific evidence of use, but rather on an inference drawn from circumstantial facts.
For a long time, the public narrative has centered on the idea that we “stole a project for personal gain and founded a company,” and I believe the explanation of why we left Nexon and decided to make our own game has not been sufficiently conveyed.
We have consistently explained that, under the circumstances at the time, we believed it would be difficult to responsibly continue the P3 project due to a lack of support for the project and concerns about how it was being operated. However, it had been difficult to present objective grounds to support that explanation.
Recently, there was a court ruling that helps confirm this context.
https://www.donga.com/news/It/article/all/20260424/133804774/1
https://m.naeil.com/news/read/586522?ref=naver
https://www.newslock.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=129217
In that ruling, the court found that there was a legal problem with the personnel decision in which an employee who had returned from childcare leave was left in a long-term waiting status, despite having applied to the P3 project, completed an interview, and received the team’s intent to accept them, yet was not actually assigned to the project.
At the time, the P3 project was short on game design staff to the point that, among more than 20 team members, there was only one game designer. The applicant had received an evaluation indicating that there was no issue with their participation in the project, and they applied to the P3 project through the internal process. I also judged that the person was necessary for the project and requested several times that they be allowed to join the team.
At the time, I had doubts about the way the project was being supported, and this personnel decision was the event that confirmed those doubts. I judged that this personnel decision was inappropriate both from the perspective of project operation and from the perspective of how an individual employee was being treated.
I believed that, under these circumstances, it was not right to continue taking responsibility for the P3 project, and I ultimately decided to leave the company.
This ruling is not a direct judgment on the trade secret issue. However, I believe it is meaningful in that it confirms objective facts showing why, at the time, I judged that it would be difficult to responsibly continue the P3 project.
In addition, in the related criminal investigation that concluded after the second instance ruling, including the expert findings of the National Forensic Service and the Korea Copyright Commission, no use or infringement of the materials was confirmed, and that portion of the case resulted in a non-prosecution disposition. We submitted these expert findings to the Supreme Court and are now awaiting the court’s judgment.
The fact that, when I decided to leave Nexon and develop a new game, Dark and Darker, I intended to develop it from the ground up without relying on P3 project materials or trade secrets is also recorded in the consistent statements of former P3 team members and in video footage taken during the founding process of IRONMACE, all of which have also been submitted.
We do not know what ruling will be issued on April 30.
However, the fact remains that we had no intent whatsoever to improperly use another company’s trade secret materials, and that we built Dark and Darker ourselves.
We will share matters related to the ruling with our players as soon as they are confirmed.
I am sorry that we have continued to cause fatigue over matters unrelated to the game itself. We will continue to put our full effort into making and improving a better game, so that our players can build enjoyable memories with it.
simple fog
@everyone, We will be deploying Season #9 starting at <t:1777363200>.
When the patch starts, you will not be able to log in to the game and players in-game will not be able to enter the matchmaking pool during this time.
Players in a match or in-game will have 40 minutes to complete their match and exit safely.
The server will return to full service 4 hours after the patch starts.
During maintenance, all services, including the website, may be temporarily suspended to update various servers.
Bugfixes:
Game Updates:
Balance Updates:
General
Classes
Fighter
Rogue
Ranger
Barbarian
Druid
Wizard
Sorcerer
Bard
Items
Developer Comments
Welcome to Early Access #9. All character levels, items, stashes, inventory, reward tokens, karma, quest, affinity, and triumph levels have been reset. This season brings several large new features.
We have decided to start this season with a two-week ‘Solo Self Found’ event.
This means that the Trading Post and Marketplace will not open until May 14, 2026.
In the lead up to that date, we will be running a Twitch Drops Campaign from May 1 to May, 21 2026.
Also be sure to login and collect all your EA Season 8 rewards including the first Arena portrait borders.
The new Arena season 2 will also commence on May 15, 2026.
Please note that the Arenas will be limited to ‘Epic’ grade and you will not lose your gear upon a loss.
Finally, be sure to collect your ‘EAS9 Welcome Delivery’ pack from the Expressman’s ‘Post Express’ service tab to help you start the season off with a bit of gold.
We thank you and see you in the dungeons!
simple fog
@everyone, Unfortunately, the maintenance will be extended by approximately 3 hours due to a critical issue discovered during internal testing.
We are truly sorry for the delay.
simple fog
@everyone, Unfortunately, we’ve fixed the critical issue we found, but we’ll be extending maintenance by about an hour to verify it.
We’ll verify the fix as quickly as possible.
We are truly sorry for the delay.
simple fog
@everyone, Final testing is almost complete.
We should be able to wrap up this long maintenance soon.
@everyone, The patch process is now complete. See you in the dungeons!
simple fog
Many matches are ending unexpectedly during the server scaling process.
Emergency work is currently underway to resolve this issue, and normal service is expected to resume shortly.
simple fog
Known Issue (After Patch)
We will fix this as soon as possible, and once the issue is resolved, rank rewards will be available to claim normally.
simple fog
@everyone, We will be deploying hotfix #114 starting at <t:1777530600>.
When the patch starts, you will not be able to log in to the game and players in-game will not be able to enter the matchmaking pool during this time.
Players in a match or in-game will have 40 minutes to complete their match and exit safely.
The server will return to full service 2 hours after the patch starts.
During maintenance, all services, including the website, may be temporarily suspended to update various servers.
Bugfixes
Game Updates
Developer Comments
This hotfix is aimed at quickly resolving several issues to ensure a proper start to this season. Other changes, including balance adjustments, will be rolled out gradually through upcoming hotfixes.
This hotfix fixes the ability to claim your EAS8 Adventure Rank rewards, fixes a blocking issue with the Mimic quest, and adds the missing key binding options for the newly introduced ping feature.
We hope you enjoy the new season to the fullest.
As always, thank you and see you in the dungeons!
simple fog
@everyone, The patch process is now complete. See you in the dungeons!
simple fog
@everyone, We will be deploying hotfix #114-1 starting at <t:1778220000>.
When the patch starts, you will not be able to log in to the game and players in-game will not be able to enter the matchmaking pool during this time.
Players in a match or in-game will have 40 minutes to complete their match and exit safely.
The server will return to full service 2 hours after the patch starts.
During maintenance, all services, including the website, may be temporarily suspended to update various servers.
Bugfixes
simple fog
@everyone, The patch process is now complete. See you in the dungeons!
simple fog
@everyone, Based on the excellent engagement from Arena Season 1, we’ve recently decided to expand our Arena strategy.
For the upcoming Arena Season 2, we will be adding a new separate ‘Solo/Duo’ Arena queue and leaderboard, along with extra rewards.
The original Arena queue and leaderboard will now be known as the ‘Flex (Trio)’ Arena.
We need some extra time to prepare this new matching queue and leaderboard, so the start of Arena Season 2 has been slightly pushed back to May 29th.
BOTH Arena queues will have the entrance gear limit set at ‘Epic’ grade, and all items will be retained even after a loss.
The Solo/Duo Arena’s will further be limited to just Solo queue once competitors reach the ‘Vanquisher 3’ rank at 2600+ MMR.
We apologize for the delay but believe this update will offer a more compelling Arena experience to a larger audience.
We thank you for your patience and look forward to seeing you in the Arenas soon!
simple fog
@everyone, We will be deploying hotfix #115 starting at <t:1778738400>.
When the patch starts, you will not be able to log in to the game and players in-game will not be able to enter the matchmaking pool during this time.
Players in a match or in-game will have 40 minutes to complete their match and exit safely.
The server will return to full service 2 hours after the patch starts.
During maintenance, all services, including the website, may be temporarily suspended to update various servers.
Bugfixes
Game Updates
Balance Updates
General
Classes
Fighter
Barbarian
Rogue
Ranger
Warlock
Sorcerer
Items
Developer Comments
This hotfix continues our quest to bring more polish and balance to the game.
We’ve added several small QoL changes to make the game more organized and easier to navigate.
We’ve updated lootdrops, including the return of rings and pendants, to accentuate certain POIs within the dungeons.
This update also includes many class and weapon balance changes to encourage more and diverse gameplay reduce some overbearing weapons.
Due to the excellent engagement from Arena Season 1, we’ve recently decided to expand our Arena strategy.
For the upcoming Arena Season 2, we will be adding a new separate ‘Solo/Duo’ Arena queue and leaderboard, along with extra rewards.
The Solo/Duo queue still means the Arena is fought as a 3vs3 battle, but only solo and duo parties will be able to join the random matchmaking queue.
The original Arena queue and leaderboard will now be known as the ‘Flex (Trio)’ Arena and will support all party size compositions up to a 3-stack for the matchmaking.
We need some extra time to prepare this new matching queue and leaderboard, so the start of Arena Season 2 has been slightly pushed back to May 29th.
BOTH Arena queues will have the entrance gear limit set at ‘Epic’ grade, and all items will be retained even after a loss.
The Solo/Duo Arena’s will further be limited to just Solo queue once competitors reach the ‘Vanquisher 3’ rank at 2600+ MMR.
We apologize for the delay but believe this update will offer a more compelling Arena experience to a larger audience.
We thank you for your patience and look forward to seeing you in the Arenas soon!
simple fog
@everyone, Unfortunately, the maintenance will be extended by approximately an hour due to a critical issue discovered during internal testing.
We are truly sorry for the delay.
simple fog
@everyone, The patch process is now complete. See you in the dungeons!
Known Issue (After Patch)
hasty rose
** Dark and Darker e-Sports Title Showcase in Korea**
Hello @everyone!
We’re excited to share some great news about an opportunity to meet you all in person!
Dark and Darker has been selected for the e-Sports Title Support Program, and we’ll be participating in PlayX4, held at KINTEX in Ilsan, from May 21st to May 24th.
For anyone who is visiting or living in Korea, stop by the IRONMACE booth at PlayX4 to take part in various events where you can win exclusive Dark and Darker merch.
On Sunday, May 24th, we’ll be hosting a special event match featuring Korean streamers who have continuously supported and played Dark and Darker.
PlayX4 Event Information
Streamer Invitational Event Match 🏆
We’re hosting an event match featuring Korean streamers who have shown their dedication to Dark and Darker. A total of 12 streamers will compete in this event, with the top 2 teams advancing through the online semifinals to face off in a head-to-head showdown at the offline showcase.
Online Semifinals Information
Further details regarding the Streamer Invitational Event Match online semifinals will be shared in a separate announcement.
We deeply appreciate your continued support and enthusiasm!
Thank you 
simple fog
Ranger Overdraw Temporarily Disabled
Due to a bug where the Ranger’s Overdraw skill can fire two arrows at the same time when used together with Quickshot skill, we have temporarily disabled Overdraw in PvP dungeons(Normal / High Roller / Squire Royale).
We are currently working to resolve the issue and will prepare a patch as quickly as possible to minimize the inconvenience for players.
simple fog
@everyone, We will be deploying hotfix #115-1 starting at <t:1779435000>.
When the patch starts, you will not be able to log in to the game and players in-game will not be able to enter the matchmaking pool during this time.
Players in a match or in-game will have 40 minutes to complete their match and exit safely.
The server will return to full service 2 hours after the patch starts.
During maintenance, all services, including the website, may be temporarily suspended to update various servers.
Bugfixes
Game Updates
simple fog
@everyone, Unfortunately, the maintenance will be extended by approximately 2 hours due to a critical issue discovered during internal testing.
We are truly sorry for the delay.
Progress Update
Dev team has identified and fixed the cause of the issue, but maintenance will take approximately 2 hours from this point to complete.
simple fog
@everyone Unfortunately, an additional issue has been discovered during internal testing, and maintenance will need to be extended further by more than 2 hours.
Dev team is working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible, and we will provide another update once we have more information.
We sincerely apologize for the continued delay and inconvenience. 🙏
simple fog
@everyone, The patch process is now complete. See you in the dungeons!
Known Issue (After Patch)
simple fog
@everyone, The following issue has been resolved. We apologize for the inconvenience.
We will also work to resolve the remaining issues found after the patch as quickly as possible.
simple fog
@everyone, We will be deploying hotfix #115-1 starting at <t:1779522000>.
When the patch starts, you will not be able to log in to the game and players in-game will not be able to enter the matchmaking pool during this time.
Players in a match or in-game will have 40 minutes to complete their match and exit safely.
The server will return to full service 2 hours after the patch starts.
During maintenance, all services, including the website, may be temporarily suspended to update various servers.
Bugfixes
This patch resolves the following side effects caused by performance optimization code:
Developer Comments
We sincerely apologize for the disruption caused by the series of patches over the weekend.
The dev team has begun tackling outdated code that has been a major cause of the ongoing performance issues.
We are working as quickly as possible to resolve the many structural issues that have been affecting the stability of the game and to deliver more stable patches going forward.
Thank you for your patience.
simple fog
@everyone, The patch process is now complete. See you in the dungeons!