Digital Sun Games, the Spanish developer behind Moonlighter, decided to restrict the early tests of ReVamp out of fear that artificial intelligence tools will be used to copy the game before its release. The change, announced on Monday (19), replaces the public test initially planned on Steam with a phase of access controlled by Discord.
The first test remains scheduled for October 29, but it will have a reduced number of participants, invited in stages by the studio's official community. Digital Sun had opened sign-ups on Steam to welcome players interested in trying the title and contributing to its development.
The decision was driven by recent reports of games submitted to reverse engineering, reproduced and published even before their original versions. The developer fears that early access to a broad version of ReVamp will facilitate this type of practice.
"With the launch still months away, a broad public version of ReVamp seemed to represent too great a risk," Digital Sun explained in a statement.
The company did not state that ReVamp has been copied or that there is a specific cloning attempt underway. The restriction is a preventive measure, based on the risks perceived by the studio.
Digital Sun apologized to players who requested access through Steam and informed that it hopes to hold a public test around January 2027. The release of ReVamp remains scheduled for March 25, 2027.
The game combines tower defense and roguelike elements, placing players in the role of Dracula, responsible for building and defending his castle against invaders.
In the statement, the developer acknowledged the dilemma faced by independent studios: presenting games early is one of the main ways to gain visibility and build a community. By restricting ReVamp, Digital Sun seeks to protect precisely the launch that depends on that exposure.
The company also asked digital platforms to strengthen their protection mechanisms for original works.
