The roguelike game Void War, which draws heavily from both FTL and the Warhammer universe, was briefly removed from Steam after a Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) takedown notice. The incident highlights the challenges independent developers face when creating games inspired by established intellectual property.
Released in June 2025, Void War quickly gained attention for its blend of strategic spaceship combat reminiscent of FTL: Faster Than Light and its setting inspired by Games Workshop’s Warhammer 40,000. The game allows players to command a ship through a hostile galaxy, confronting cults and other threats. Whereas, on January 22nd, the game disappeared from the Steam storefront.
The developer, Tundra Interactive, initially believed the DMCA claim was a prank, as the notice originated from a name familiar to science fiction fans: Mal Reynolds – the protagonist of the series Firefly. However, it was later confirmed that Games Workshop was indeed behind the takedown. According to reports, the issue stemmed from a specific in-game asset: “large convex shoulder pads with a metallic rim” on a particular character.
To reinstate the game on Steam, Tundra Interactive removed the trailer featuring the contested visual element, while maintaining their disagreement with Games Workshop’s assessment. As of February 6, 2026, Void War has returned to Steam, and is also still available for purchase on itch.io. The incident underscores the complexities of copyright law and the potential for disputes when independent creators draw inspiration from larger franchises.
The game’s brief removal and subsequent reinstatement demonstrate the power of DMCA notices and the importance of clear communication between developers and intellectual property holders.
