Sponsored By

3D Realms has changed the name of its first-person shooter Ion Maiden to Ion Fury after being sued by the heavy metal band Iron Maiden for trademark infringement.Â

Chris Kerr, News Editor

July 11, 2019

1 Min Read

3D Realms has changed the name of its first-person shooter Ion Maiden to Ion Fury after being sued by the heavy metal band Iron Maiden for trademark infringement. 

Iron Maiden filed the lawsuit back in May, and accused 3D Realms of "incredibly blatant" infringement on their Iron Maiden trademark. 

Specifically, the group asserted that the game's title was "nearly identical to the Iron Maiden trademark in appearance, sound, and overall commercial impression," and also claimed its protagonist Shelly Harrison was a clear riff on bassist and songwriter Steve Harris.

The band demanded $2 million in damages from 3D Realms, but "after careful consideration" the studio has chose to rebrand the game. 

"We’ve decided to rename our first-person-shooter Ion Maiden to Ion Fury," said Mike Nielsen, CEO of 3D Realms.

"A lot of thought went into this, but most importantly it would be a disservice to our loyal fanbase and the fantastic developers, to drag out a long lawsuit. The amazing gameplay, interactivity and pure fun, is what makes Ion Fury a great game. Not the title."

About the Author(s)

Chris Kerr

News Editor, GameDeveloper.com

Game Developer news editor Chris Kerr is an award-winning journalist and reporter with over a decade of experience in the game industry. His byline has appeared in notable print and digital publications including Edge, Stuff, Wireframe, International Business Times, and PocketGamer.biz. Throughout his career, Chris has covered major industry events including GDC, PAX Australia, Gamescom, Paris Games Week, and Develop Brighton. He has featured on the judging panel at The Develop Star Awards on multiple occasions and appeared on BBC Radio 5 Live to discuss breaking news.

Daily news, dev blogs, and stories from Game Developer straight to your inbox

You May Also Like