Mystery delisting – Sega removes 60+ classic games from Steam and other stores

At 11:59 p.m. PST on December 6, 2024, Sega will begin removing over 60 classic games from major platforms like Steam, the PlayStation Store, the Xbox Store, and the Nintendo eShop. The list of affected titles includes fan favorites such as Sonic 3D Blast, Jet Set Radio, and Crazy Taxi.

The exact number of titles being delisted is hard to pinpoint, as some games are offered in collections that vary by platform. For a breakdown of which games will be removed from each store, refer to Sega's FAQ, where the delisting was officially announced. The good news is that anyone who has already purchased these games will still be able to download and play them even after they're removed.

Reasons still unclear

Sega has not given any reasons for the delisting. In a Reddit thread on the topic, many suspect that Sega may have removed the original titles in order to be able to offer remakes. Although the Japanese game developer has earned praise for fair pricing until now, fans worry that future remasters or collections might come with higher price tags or be restricted to subscription services.

One possible indication of planned remakes is the fact that the Sega Ages remasters for the Nintendo Switch (available on Amazon for $274) are not affected by the delisting. If Sega really is planning new editions, the question remains as to whether the company will bring the games back in the form of individual releases or as a large collection.

Industry expert Oli Welsh speculates on Polygon that technical quality issues might be a factor in the decision, as most of the affected titles are older ports and emulations.

Collectors could benefit

Collectors of physical games could be the beneficiaries of the planned delisting. As soon as the games are no longer available in digital form, the value of physical copies on sales platforms could increase.