Steam blocks Wired Tokyo 2007 demo over IP concerns, even though the IP belongs to the same developer

Wired Tokyo 2007 has become an unexpected example of how messy digital storefront approval can be for small developers. Japanese indie creator Daikichi says Steam blocked the demo for the upcoming 3D vertical action game because the app appeared to include third-party intellectual property. The strange part is that the flagged material is apparently Dinostone, a dinosaur-themed card game Daikichi also created and published in 2023. According to VGC, ValveÔÇÖs review message asked for reasonable assurances such as license agreements or a legal opinion explaining why the game does not need third-party licenses. For a small indie team, that is a heavy demand, especially when the issue concerns the creatorÔÇÖs own earlier work. Daikichi says they cannot afford the legal route and has instead submitted a signed document granting themselves permission to use their own creations. For players, the issue is bigger than one demo. Storefronts need strong IP checks, but false positives can slow or block small projects that lack legal budgets. Wired Tokyo 2007 now has attention for the wrong reason, and many indie developers will be watching how Steam responds.