Even in an era where Marvel and Disney seem to dominate every corner of pop culture, not everyone is well-versed in the roster of the Avengers or the Guardians of the Galaxy. Dark Dimension, the indie studio behind the upcoming title StarLords, recently confessed they were entirely unaware of Peter Quill’s superhero moniker. Now, the developers are frantically brainstorming a rebrand to avoid a potential legal collision with the entertainment giant.
StarLords is an aesthetically striking, hand-drawn sci-fi bullet hell that weaves roguelike progression with strategic depth. Imagine the frantic combat of Enter the Gungeon paired with robust base-building mechanics and a vibrant, cel-shaded art style reminiscent of Borderlands. The game features 10 distinct “StarLord” commanders, each equipped with specialized loadouts and tactical facilities. For example, the Spore Entity can manipulate the environment through terraforming, while the Clone Master relies on overwhelming enemies with sheer numbers. While a definitive launch date hasn’t been set, a demo is currently playable on Steam.
Despite the game’s polished appearance, the Chinese development team is feeling the heat after realizing their title’s proximity to a major Marvel IP. “None of us on the team watch Marvel movies,” a developer admitted on Reddit, expressing an urgent desire to pivot before Disney’s legal department takes notice.
The studio is now crowdsourcing name ideas from their audience, promising a free Steam key and a spot in the game’s credits for the person who provides the winning title. Although they haven’t consulted legal experts yet, the developers are choosing to be proactive rather than waiting for a cease-and-desist letter.
“With the prevalence of AI and global search tools, it’s too risky to stay the course,” one developer noted. “We’d much rather play it safe and rebrand now.”
This public identity crisis has also doubled as a clever promotional tool. Coincidentally, StarLords recently debuted on Kickstarter. Given the modest funding goal of roughly $2,000 and the evident quality of the gameplay footage, most fans are giving the team the benefit of the doubt rather than dismissing it as a mere marketing stunt.
The community response has been a mix of genuine suggestions and internet humor. While serious contenders like Space Carnage and BulletLords are on the table, others couldn’t help but troll the developers with even more litigious options.
“Why not just call it Star Wars?” one user joked. Another added, “If there’s a crafting system, StarCraft seems like a solid choice.”
According to the creators, the fundamental campaign and gameplay loops are already finalized, along with the full roster of commanders. The team is now looking toward post-launch goals, including cooperative multiplayer and customizable planetary headquarters. You can track the progress of the rebrand and try the game for yourself on Steam.
Source: Polygon
