Digital Sun, the independent studio known for the roguelike Moonlighter and the real-time strategy game Cataclismo, has postponed the planned Steam playtest for its upcoming title, ReVamp. The decision stems from growing apprehension regarding the potential for AI to reverse-engineer and clone games before their official release.
Originally slated for late October, the playtest for ReVamp, described as a "Tower Defensevania," will now be conducted in phases via Discord, starting October 29th. The studio expressed concern that "games being reverse-engineered, cloned and published before the original is even out" poses too significant a risk when sharing a build with a large audience months before launch. Access will eventually expand to a public playtest around January, with the full game scheduled for release on March 25, 2027.
This move by Digital Sun follows similar actions by other developers. Alliance Arts recently canceled a Steam Next Fest demo for its game Drunken Goddess Reflux due to worries that AI tools could quickly replicate its presentation and gameplay, potentially releasing imitations ahead of the original. These concerns highlight a growing trend of developers seeking to protect their intellectual property in the face of advancing AI technologies. The shadow of generative AI has cast a pall over events like Steam Next Fest, prompting studios to reassess how they share early access content.