Games Workshop Halts Indie Game Over Familiar Shoulder Pad Design Dispute
Tundra Interactive, the indie studio behind the strategic RPG Void War, recently addressed the temporary removal of their game from Steam. The issue arose from a dispute concerning a specific design element—a pair of notable shoulder pads.
Origin of the Dispute
The conflict began when Games Workshop, a well-known UK tabletop gaming company, issued a DMCA takedown notice. The notice was filed by an individual using the name Mal Reynolds, which many initially thought was a joke, referencing the protagonist from the cult TV series Firefly.
However, Tundra later confirmed the legitimacy of the claim. The notice stated that the design of the shoulder pads, referred to by Games Workshop as “oversized convex shoulder pads with a metallic rim,” was too similar to their own Warhammer 40,000 Space Marine designs.
Tundra’s Response
Tundra Interactive disagreed with the assertion made by Games Workshop. They maintained that all artwork in the trailer was original, crafted by their own artists. Despite this disagreement, the studio opted to remove the trailer from Steam to expedite the game’s return.
In a public statement to IGN, Tundra explained, “The simplest way to get the game back up and avoid getting bogged down in DMCA process was to remove that trailer and move on.” They emphasized their commitment to completing content updates and improving multi-language font support for translations.
Current Status of Void War
As of now, Void War has returned to Steam, free from the effects of the initial DMCA notice. The game features an updated trailer that adheres to guidelines, providing a fresh look while ensuring compliance with copyright standards.
A Cautionary Note
- Games Workshop is actively monitoring potential copyright violations.
- Developers should exercise caution when designing elements that could resemble established franchises.
As the landscape of indie game development continues to evolve, disputes like this highlight the importance of original design and awareness of existing intellectual property.
