Indie voxel game ‘Allumeria’ pulled from Steam after Microsoft DMCA notice alleges Minecraft IP use

Allumeria, an indie voxel sandbox that launched its Steam demo last month, has been taken down following a DMCA copyright claim filed on behalf of Microsoft Corporation. The takedown notice claims the game uses Minecraft content without authorization.

The DMCA was issued by Tracer.ai, an AI-powered copyright enforcement service that automatically scans platforms for potential infringement. According to the notice, Microsoft alleges that Allumeria’s Steam screenshots contain content that infringes on Minecraft’s intellectual property. The comparison shows side-by-side images of both games featuring blocky trees, grass, and voxel environments.

Developer UnobtainableMelon built Allumeria as an original voxel sandbox combining Minecraft-style building with Terraria-inspired progression systems. The game features procedurally generated dungeons, boss fights, and unique biomes. Players had been praising it as a fresh take on the voxel genre since its early alpha releases on itch.io.

Here’s where things get complicated. Allumeria doesn’t actually use any Minecraft assets. The textures, code, and gameplay systems are original creations. What triggered the takedown appears to be visual similarity in promotional screenshots rather than actual asset theft. The developer broke the news on the game’s Discord channel.

Several users pointed out that Tracer.ai has flagged other voxel games before, suggesting the AI system may struggle to distinguish between genre conventions and copyright infringement.

Steam’s DMCA process means Valve had to remove the game once they received the notice, regardless of whether the claim holds legal weight. Platforms like Steam typically comply with takedown requests immediately to avoid liability under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. The developer now has the option to file a counter-notice contesting the claim.

If UnobtainableMelon files a counter-notice and Microsoft doesn’t follow up with a lawsuit within 10 to 14 business days, Steam will restore the game to the platform. That’s the process spelled out in the DMCA’s safe harbor provisions. The game remains available on the developer’s itch.io page while this plays out.

So now we wait. Either the developer files a counter-notice, and Microsoft decides whether to actually sue, or Allumeria stays buried. It’s a weird situation where an AI flagged a game for looking too much like another game in a genre where everything kind of looks similar. That’s the world indie devs are working in now.