Digital Sun Pulls ReVamp Playtest Over Fears of AI Clones

Digital Sun, the independent studio behind the roguelike Moonlighter and the real-time strategy game Cataclismo, has postponed a planned Steam playtest for its next project, ReVamp. The studio says the decision comes from concern about copycats, specifically the risk that the game could be cloned before it reaches players.

In its announcement, the developer pointed to a wider problem it sees across the industry: "games being reverse-engineered, cloned and published before the original is even out." For a small team, a playtest is a significant step. It puts a build in front of players, collects feedback and builds early interest. Pulling one back suggests Digital Sun believes that early exposure now carries more risk than reward.

ReVamp is billed as a "Tower Defensevania," a blend of tower defense and the exploration-driven structure of Metroidvania games. A mix like that is the kind of concept that can be recognized and imitated quickly, especially once footage or a playable build is visible to outsiders. The worry about AI-assisted copycats fits a broader anxiety among developers. Generative tools can speed up the production of code, art and level layouts, and some creators fear those same tools make it easier for someone else to produce a close imitation and get it onto storefronts first.

The studio's statement does not name a specific clone or a particular tool, and it has not announced a new date for the playtest. Players hoping to try ReVamp early will need to wait for an update from Digital Sun.

Still, the choice is a telling one. Indie developers have long shared unfinished work to win fans and gather feedback, and many now seem to be weighing that openness against the chance that a rival gets there first. Whether that caution becomes a norm across small studios is something to watch as more games reach the playtest stage.