ReVamp developer Digital Sun Games has canceled plans for a public playtest of its upcoming game, citing concerns that AI tools could make it easier for others to copy its mechanics and presentation before launch. The game is scheduled to release in March 2027, and testing will instead be restricted to a smaller group through Discord.
ReVamp Will Hold a Limited Playtest Through Discord
- What is ReVamp? A roguelike that combines tower defense mechanics with exploration and progression elements, described as a tower defensevania.
- Why was the public playtest canceled? Digital Sun Games believes that giving tens of thousands of players early access could expose the game to copying and reverse engineering before release.
- How will testing work instead? The studio plans to restrict access through Discord to reduce the risk of unauthorized replication.
Digital Sun Games, best known for developing the Moonlighter franchise, said it had been following reports of games being reverse-engineered, copied, and released before the original titles reached the market.
Israel Mallén, the studio's marketing manager, told PC Gamer that making ReVamp available to a large public audience while launch is still months away presents a significant risk. He also noted that other developers share similar concerns and suggested that raising awareness could encourage distribution platforms to take action.
Other Game Studios Have Also Canceled Public Demos
- Drunken Goddess Reflux: Its developers reportedly canceled plans for a public demo during Steam Next Fest the week before PC Gamer published its report.
- The main concern: Demo builds can expose gameplay systems and visual elements that others may imitate or reproduce using AI-assisted development tools.
- The impact on indie developers: Public demos can attract players and provide valuable feedback, but they may also reveal ideas before a game is commercially available.
The decisions by Digital Sun Games and the team behind Drunken Goddess Reflux reflect a growing concern among independent developers about how early access to unreleased games could be exploited.
AI Tools Are Raising Concerns About Game Cloning
- More accessible development: AI-assisted programming tools can help developers create prototypes and derivative games more quickly.
- Steam Next Fest: PC Gamer cited more than 8,000 demos in the edition discussed in its report, compared with approximately 4,000 in June.
- A real-world example: Escape the Walls reportedly inspired at least seven Roblox copies within ten days of its creator sharing images on X. Another version was also identified on Steam.
The increase in available demos does not establish how many projects use AI. However, the growing accessibility of development tools has intensified concerns about how quickly recognizable gameplay concepts can be replicated.
For independent studios, the challenge is balancing the benefits of public demos with the risk of exposing distinctive mechanics, visual designs, and other creative elements to potential copycats.
Digital Sun Games hopes that greater discussion of AI-assisted game cloning will encourage distribution platforms to consider measures to address the issue. For now, ReVamp's playtesting will remain restricted ahead of its planned March 2027 release.
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