New Mickey Mouse Horror Game Announced After Disney Icon Enters Public Domain

Iconic Disney Character Transformed into Demonic Mascot Hunting Players

A new Mickey Mouse horror game has been announced less than 24 hours after the beloved Disney cartoon character entered the public domain. Nightmare Forge Games released a trailer for a new horror video game called Infestation 88, where players are hunted by an early version of Mickey Mouse featured in the short film Steamboat Willie. This version of Mickey Mouse is far removed from his beloved days as the face of Disney, as he is seen attacking exterminators in a gory and terrifying manner. The release date for the game has not been announced yet.

Steamboat Willie: The Film That Transformed Disney's Fortunes

Steamboat Willie, a 1928 short film featuring early non-speaking versions of Mickey and Minnie Mouse, is widely regarded as the moment that transformed Disney's fortunes. It was the film debut for Mickey and Minnie and marked the beginning of their iconic journey. The earliest version of Mickey Mouse, as seen in Steamboat Willie, entered the public domain on New Year's Day, granting the public creative freedom to use the character strictly as depicted in the film. However, more modern versions of Mickey Mouse are still protected by Disney copyright.

From Beloved Characters to Horror Icons: Public Domain Impact

The entry of Mickey Mouse and Winnie-the-Pooh into the public domain has given rise to a wave of creative reinterpretations of these iconic characters. Just two years after Winnie-the-Pooh entered the public domain, a slasher movie called Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey was released, depicting the chubby, playful bear as a serial killer on a bloody rampage. Now, with the public domain status, Mickey Mouse has also undergone a sinister transformation in the Infestation 88 horror game.

It is important to note that while the original versions of these characters have entered the public domain, more recent iterations are still protected by copyright laws. The public domain status only applies to the specific versions of Mickey Mouse and Winnie-the-Pooh as they appeared in Steamboat Willie and their early stories, respectively.