Steam block for Wired Tokyo 2007

Japanese indie developer Daikichi_EMP is facing a dilemma over the release of his upcoming game, Wired Tokyo 2007. Even though he owns the copyright to the in-game objects, Valve, Steam’s parent company, has blocked publication of a demo. The reason is a third-party copyright infringement claim.

What is Wired Tokyo 2007?

Wired Tokyo 2007 is a vertical 3D action game in which players explore the skies above Tokyo. The player must unlock new abilities by diving downward. The developer has marked the demo as “coming soon” and says it contains a significant portion of the game. The demo is meant to give potential players a taste before the full game launches in 2027.

The Steam block

On May 4, 2026, Daikichi_EMP announced on social media that the Wired Tokyo 2007 demo had been blocked by Steam. Valve claims the demo contains elements from two board games — Second Best and Dinostone — which were also developed by Daikichi_EMP under different names. The developer has not been able to provide clear proof that he owns the rights, which has left him confused and frustrated.

The developer’s response

Daikichi_EMP has repeatedly tried to explain the situation to Steam support. He has suggested that he could replace the images in the demo to meet Valve’s requirements. “I provided evidence during the application, but that still isn’t enough. What am I supposed to do?” Daikichi_EMP said.

To resolve the issue, he has kept resubmitting documentation, including a signed document giving himself permission to use his own work. So far, however, he has not received a response from Valve.

Conclusion

Daikichi_EMP’s situation is a reminder of how complex and confusing intellectual property rights can be in the games industry. It is not unusual for indie developers to run into bureaucratic hurdles that put their work at risk. While the developer continues to hope for a solution, the Wired Tokyo 2007 demo remains blocked.