Game Developer DMCA Claim Their Own Game To Get It Back From A Thieving Publisher

By Austin Wilson | @TheAustinPost1

Eximius developer, Ammobox Studios, made an

announcement on the games steam page that they

filed a DMCA strike on their own game to get it

back from their publisher, TheGameWallStudios.

The announcement states, "Dear Community: We

(Ammobox Studios) are forced to issue a DMCA

Notice to our own game Eximius: Seize the Frontline.

As a result, the steam page has been temporarily

disabled."

The game, Eximius Seize the Frontline, described

as a FPS/RTS hybrid, was in early access from

September 27th until early January when the

developers filed the DMCA notice. The game had

received positive reviews until the claim. Since the

claim, reviews for the game have taken a dive.

The developer claimed the game because their

publisher, TheGameWallStudios, failed to share

revenue earned from the game with Ammobox

Studios while the developer was paying for all

the games servers and services.

“In total we lost launch sales, Halloween Sales,

Autumn Sale and a portion of Winter Sale's

revenue.” Ammobox said in a post on their Reddit.

In January, after months of losing money,

Ammobox decided to “scorch Earth” and DMCA

strike their own game to get it back from

TheGameWallStudios. Valve also helped the

developers get the rights to their game back but

the Ammobox had suffered greatly.

“After the DMCA, Steam assisted us by helping us

regain the App id via the proper due process. 4

months post launch, we're nearly collapsed, full of

debt, but finally regained the App id, we will rise up.”

Ammobox is now the developer and publisher of

Eximius: Seize the Frontline and the game is once

again for sale on Steam for $29.99. Reviews for the

game have gone up as well, going from ‘mixed’ to

‘mostly positive’.

Ammobox Studios is seeking legal action against

TheGameWallStudios but the publisher has refused

to respond to their lawyers demands and the

developer states that the authorities “refuse to

see this as a case worth investigating.”

Eximius: Seize the Frontline is a unique game

with a FPS/RTS blend. The game had positive

reviews prior to the developers complications with

their publisher and reviews are becoming more

positive after they reclaimed their game. The

game was an 8 year passion project for the

developers and it's clear they made it with

gamers in mind.

If that's sounds like a game you'd be interested

in, check it out! It's a cheap game and most of the

proceeds go to a promising team of developers

who cares for their game and players.