Developer Claims Misguided DMCA from Microsoft Led to Their Sandbox Game’s Removal from Steam Over a Screenshot of Birch Trees

Unomelon, the studio behind the Minecraft-inspired sandbox game Allumeria, recently announced that their game has been removed from Steam due to a DMCA claim from Microsoft, seemingly linked to Minecraft.

“The Allumeria Steam page is currently down because Microsoft has filed a false DMCA claim on it,” Unomelon shared on Bluesky. “They sent an email earlier today claiming that this screenshot infringes on their copyright. I am taking a moment to figure out what my path is going forward, will update soon.”

The screenshot in question features a picturesque forest filled with birch and oak trees, along with pumpkins and weeds scattered across the grassy terrain. While there are clear similarities to Minecraft, many voxel-based games, including Hytale, share a similar aesthetic.

Although SteamDB still lists the main page and demos for Allumeria, the links now redirect to Steam’s homepage. An older version of the game is available on Itch, and the latest trailer on Unomelon’s YouTube channel has sparked comments regarding the DMCA issue.

“The game looks really good, and can’t wait to give it a go,” one viewer commented. “I hope you will be able to get the game back up on Steam, so I and others can do so!”

In response to the situation, a user on Bluesky quipped, “Ah yes, beloved Minecraft character birch tree.”

Allumeria is a procedurally generated, first-person voxel sandbox game that invites players to explore caves and dungeons, build farms and homes, and customize the world around them. It also features online multiplayer, which was showcased in a demo earlier this year.

In terms of gameplay, Allumeria leans more towards action and adventure compared to Minecraft, resembling a 3D version of Terraria. The game is tagged on Itch with keywords like Exploration, Fantasy, Minecraft, Open World, Pixel Art, Sandbox, and Voxel.

Unomelon has pointed out several distinctions between Allumeria and Minecraft. For instance, they noted, “Caves are bountiful and frequent, meaning you will not have to strip mine for resources. They are filled with more than just ore – unique biomes, plant life, enemies, and structures await you in the depths.”

The Itch page also highlights the game’s advanced building and lighting systems: “Allumeria provides advanced building tools not present in other games. You can change the shape of any block on the fly. Want glass stairs? Want a dirt fence? You can do it! Allumeria has a full RGB light engine. Create dimly lit cozy cabins, or bright neon cities.”

I’ve reached out to Microsoft for comment on this DMCA situation.