Dreadmyst Delisted: Steam Ban, ‘Gummy52’ Rumors, and a Source Code Dump

by

The newly released fantasy MMO, Dreadmyst, created by a single developer, was taken off Steam after just two weeks due to claims that its audio files violate copyright.

Ever since the game came out, there’s been a ton of talk on Reddit about where all the art and sound assets actually came from. People are digging into the developer, and honestly, they’re claiming this person has a really bad reputation for ripping people off in other MMOs. It’s a bit of a mess, and everyone’s trying to figure out what’s going on.

After several days of dedicated investigation by the community, the developer known as “Xjum” was connected to “Gummy52.” Gummy52 is well-known in the private servers of World of Warcraft for starting projects and then unexpectedly leaving them unfinished and under questionable conditions.

After facing criticism online, the game developer, Xjum, took an unusual step. Instead of simply denying the accusations or ignoring the issue, they released the game’s source code, challenging the community to prove their claims of hidden malware.

Developers announced on the game’s Discord that they’re working to fix some sound issues and hope to have the game back on Steam within a few days. Players who already have the game can still access it and continue playing on the current servers.

This unexpected turn of events adds to a story already filled with suspicion, lost property, and the unusual world of privately traded online games. To grasp why a developer would resort to such a drastic measure – releasing their game’s code publicly – we need to first look at the claims that led them to do it.

The “Gummy52” Connection

Dreadmyst, an MMO that launched on January 9th, aimed to be a different kind of game: completely free to play, run as a non-profit, and built with its own unique technology. It promised to recapture the feel of early 2000s MMOs with features like traditional combat, defined character classes, and a commitment to avoiding annoying in-game purchases. In a genre lacking these classic elements, it seemed almost unbelievable. And according to experienced players on the r/MMORPG forum, that’s exactly what it was.

Users quickly pointed out that the branding of Xjum looked very similar to that of Gummy52, a well-known and controversial figure in the private server world. Gummy52 is famous for launching a highly anticipated Burning Crusade server in 2017, which was shut down just hours later. He claimed this was due to a legal notice from Blizzard and his own health problems, specifically muscular dystrophy, which prevented him from relocating the server. While people felt sympathy for his illness, the cycle of excitement followed by sudden closure left a lasting negative impression on the community.

According to Darknotical, a Reddit moderator involved in the investigation, the whole thing started because of a misleading message Gummy sent to moderators. Gummy claimed he was being falsely accused of botting and impersonation. Darknotical then reached out to Gummy on Discord to understand what was happening. During that conversation, Gummy made statements that suggested he was involved, prompting Darknotical to investigate further. This investigation revealed that the account Gummy used to send mod messages was also linked to content from Felmyst.

People noticed that the logo for Xjum’s YouTube channel looked like a digitally enhanced version of an old avatar used by Gummy52, and they found it hard to believe this was just a coincidence. Additionally, a video surfaced showing Gummy52 using the name “Xjum” in past live streams from years ago.

After all of this came to light, he confessed in his Discord server that he was Gummy. It wasn’t surprising,” Darknotical explained. This caused chaos on the subreddit, with people accusing each other of rigging votes. Posts criticizing the game were quickly flooded with downvotes – some even went from 400 upvotes to zero in seconds, likely due to bots.

Reddit user Fit_Meaning6661, who had been speaking out about concerns, captured the community’s fear: the developers had suddenly shut down three previous private servers right after they launched. To these players, Dreadmyst wasn’t just a game – it felt like a setup, waiting to fail.

The “Asset Flip” and Security Fears

The controversy over who made the game only made things worse, but the game itself had deeper problems. Even though Dreadmyst was built on a unique engine, its graphics and sounds were clearly taken from other sources. Players quickly noticed icons copied from one game, character designs similar to another, and sound effects directly taken from NCSoft’s Aion.

Darknotical questioned why the game was still available, explaining that it uses stolen copyrighted materials and an engine that creates most of its content.

The developer’s explanation of how they obtained the game assets hasn’t been clear. They’ve suggested the assets were purchased, but players have noted that assets from games like Aion aren’t available to buy legally through typical asset marketplaces.

Beyond the claims of stolen assets, the game had significant security problems. It launched without essential legal documents like Terms of Service and a Privacy Policy. Users trying to reset their passwords found the email address didn’t work, which fueled fears that the game might be stealing login information or spreading viruses.

The way the game makes money is also unusual. Dreadmyst is totally free to play, without any in-game store or option to donate. Experienced gamers find this surprising, considering the high costs of running the game servers.

Darknotical cautioned that comments from the game’s creator stating it’s “non-profit” are a major warning sign. He explained that if a service is free, users are often the ones being sold – their data or attention. Xjum, the creator, has not responded to these claims.

The “Nuclear” Option: Source Code Release

Facing claims of malware and identity theft, Xjum surprised everyone by making the software’s code publicly available.

Xjum responded to the rumors in a Steam forum post, but he deliberately avoided confirming whether he was Gummy52.

I just want to be upfront for anyone stumbling across this: it’s not a big team or an independent studio – it’s just me working on this. I wrote all the code myself, and it’s completely original.

He shared a link to the complete client code and pointed out the security features to prove the malware claims were false.

He explained that login information is sent securely using TLS 1.3, which is the latest and most up-to-date security standard, and directed users to the code responsible for handling logins.

This action completely changed how people were talking about the game. By making the underlying code public, Xjum demonstrated that the game isn’t a fraud; it’s a working, specially-made engine for a massive multiplayer online role-playing game.

Simply changing the code isn’t enough to avoid copyright issues. As Darknotical noted, claiming the engine is ‘free’ doesn’t matter if the artwork used with it still belongs to Wizards of the Coast.

The game servers are still running, and players are logging in, though they’re understandably puzzled by recent events. Now that the game’s code is publicly available, the big question online is whether people can modify it and add their own content.

Releasing the game’s code ensures that Dreadmyst will live on, even if the official servers close. Xjum has essentially protected his game by giving the community access to everything. If anything happens to the official game, players will already have the code to continue it themselves. For a developer who’s been criticized for abandoning his projects, making Dreadmyst open source could be a way to make amends, or simply add to the ongoing drama.

Read More

2026-01-24 00:35