Digital Sun Cancels Public ReVamp Playtest Over AI Game-Cloning Fears

Digital Sun has canceled the planned public playtest for ReVamp, citing concerns that AI-powered tools could be used to reverse-engineer and clone the game before its official release.

Instead of opening the test to everyone, the developer will initially invite a small group of players through Discord. The first limited playtest is scheduled to begin on October 29, 2026, while a public playtest is now planned for around January 2027.

Digital Sun explained that its decision was driven by growing concerns about games being copied and released before their original versions become available.

“We’ve been concerned by the recent news of games being reverse-engineered, cloned and published before the original is even out,” the studio said.

The decision highlights a growing dilemma for independent developers. Public playtests and early demos are important ways for smaller studios to build an audience, gather feedback, and generate interest before launch. However, making an unfinished game publicly accessible can also expose its assets, mechanics, and underlying systems to people who may attempt to reproduce it.

Digital Sun acknowledged this challenge, emphasizing how important early access to its games is for independent studios.

“Showing games early is how indies get seen and find the fans who keep us going,” the developer added.

By restricting the initial test to a smaller Discord community, Digital Sun appears to be taking a more cautious approach while still allowing selected players to experience ReVamp and provide feedback.

The studio has not suggested that ReVamp has already been cloned. Instead, the change reflects its concerns about the potential risks of exposing the game publicly amid reports of reverse-engineering and AI-assisted cloning.

For indie developers, the situation raises difficult questions about how to promote upcoming games while protecting their work. As AI tools become more capable, studios may increasingly need to weigh the benefits of public testing against the possibility of unauthorized copies appearing before release.

For now, players will have to wait until the planned January public playtest to get their hands on ReVamp, assuming the schedule remains unchanged.

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