Double Fine gets rights back to Iron Brigade, releases new update on Steam

Double Fine Productions, developer of Broken Age, Psychonauts and Brütal Legend, regained rights to publish its World War I tower defense shooter Iron Brigade, the company announced today.

The developer has also acquired the intellectual property rights to Iron Brigade, which were previously held by publisher Microsoft.

To celebrate the acquisition of Iron Brigade rights, Double Fine released a new update for the Windows PC version on Steam, adding Steamworks-based matchmaking and ditching Games for Windows Live support.

"The great thing about this change is that now there are no obstacles to us creating the best possible experience for players," said Iron Brigade creator Brad Muir in a statement. "We have fixed all known issues as well as provided a great matchmaking experience for multiplayer. Vlad and his Monovision Menace are on the move again! In the best possible way!"

Iron Brigade is currently being sold at 80 percent of its original asking price on Steam. A copy of the game will cost $2.99, with a four pack available for $8.99.

Originally released as Trenched in 2011, Iron Brigade puts players behind the controls of a World War I-era mech known as a mobile trench. Using a combination of third-person shooting and stationary defenses, players battle waves of enemy forces known as Monovisions, creepy television tube monstrosities created by evil genius Vladimir Farnsworth.