How FTL Meets Warhammer 40K Landed in Steam’s DMCA Jail Over a Shoulder Pad
In the world of indie games, creativity often blurs the lines between inspiration and imitation. Such is the case with Void War, a strategy game frequently described as ‘FTL in a Warhammer 40,000 skin.’ Recently, it found itself temporarily pulled from Steam due to a dispute over some shoulder pads.
Void War, developed by Tundra Interactive, was yanked from Steam following a DMCA takedown initiated by Games Workshop. The issue? A trailer image featuring “oversized convex shoulder pads with a metallic rim,” which Games Workshop argued might mislead players into associating the game with the Warhammer universe.
- Initially thought to be a prank, the takedown was confirmed by Games Workshop.
- The developer, Tundra Interactive, disagreed with the claim but opted to remove the trailer to restore the game on Steam.
- The dispute highlights the thin line developers tread when paying homage to popular franchises.
Despite the setback, Tundra Interactive remains focused on Void War, emphasizing that their priority is to continue development rather than engage in prolonged legal battles. The game is now back on Steam, minus the contentious trailer.
This incident underscores the challenges indie developers face when their creative expressions inadvertently cross paths with established intellectual properties. While Void War shares visual and thematic similarities with Warhammer 40K, its creators maintain that it remains an independent project.
For those interested in the controversy, here is an embedded post from Reddit discussing the takedown:
“It’s wild to see a game like Void War get caught up in IP drama over something as minor as shoulder pads. At least it’s back on Steam now!”
As the gaming community continues to grow, such stories serve as reminders of the complexities involved in game development and the importance of clear creative boundaries.
