Steamboat Willie Is Now Public Domain, Already Has A Horror Game
thegamer.com2024 is finally here, and with it comes the realization that Steamboat Willie, the earliest version of Mickey Mouse, is now in the public domain. That means the character can legally be used in other forms of media without the permission of Disney, similar to how Winnie the Pooh became part of the public domain back in 2023. Just like with Pooh, horror creators are having a field day with Steamboat Willie.
Less than 24 hours after being released into the public domain, a new trailer for an indie title called Infestation 88 was uploaded to YouTube. This game sees you and several other players exterminate infestations caused by gruesome, recognizable characters, of which Steamboat Willie is one. In fact, he's the main focus of the game's trailer, and is being used in the bulk of it's marketing.
According to Infestation 88's Steam page, the game will be episodic, introducing a new "distinct classic character or urban legend" in each episode. You'll need to work with your friends to uncover the source of each infestation, and the game will also feature proximity voice chat to amp up the realism and terror. Imagine Lethal Company, but it's Mickey Mouse stalking you instead of a Jack-In-The-Box with legs.
Infestation 88 launches in Early Access at some point in 2024, though the trailer didn't give us a specific release date. According to the developers, the game will remain in Early Access for around 6 - 12 months, though that time frame may increase if the scope and ambition of each episode increases over time.
Just like with the announcement of Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey, the reactions to Infestation 88 are a mixture of pure bewilderment and shock, mostly down to how quickly the announcement was made as soon as
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