Seega is removing its 2011 title from Steam and the Xbox Store to clear the way for an upcoming remastered version with added content. Rather than employing an unconventional approach to remove uniqueness from sale, the author will deliberately delist titles from purchase, making them accessible to those genuinely interested in acquiring them.
While the standalone uniqueness of this forthcoming title is unlikely to go up for sale on September Sega announced on Friday that it has taken into account fan feedback and is committed to preserving the integrity of the game.
“Afterwards, fans will still have access to various Sonic games through bundles on Steam and Xbox,” the author tweeted. Existing homeowners with a title will still be able to purchase and play. Lastly, rest assured that modifications (mods) on the Steam platform will remain unaffected!
The highly anticipated special edition model of was quietly removed from the Xbox online retailer in late July, sparking speculation about its future availability. On Steam, the sport is listed under the “Apps & Guides” section, which includes the base game and all available downloadable content (DLC). While details about the specific bundles offering Sonic Generations remain unclear, the game is available for purchase individually through Steam as part of Sega’s offerings.
The proliferation of delisting unique variations of video games in favour of remasters or re-releases of comparable titles is a common practice, especially prevalent at Sega. Prior to the release of , the writer removed four video games from digital stores in 2022.
Various publishing houses have undertaken analogous actions. Rockstar Games removed the original trilogy, Red Dead Revolver, Red Dead Redemption, and Red Dead Redemption 2, from digital stores ahead of launching the troubled Definitive Edition of the series. Ubisoft discontinued the development of their upcoming game prior to its release. Despite delisting the 2016 title and its 2018 sequel from digital storefronts, IO Interactive is part of a larger initiative to consolidate these games into one cohesive package.
While Sega’s strategy to remove Sonic’s standalone title may seem counterintuitive at first, it actually presents a solution for preserving its unique value proposition while maintaining availability, which could become an increasingly common trend among publishers as remasters, collections, and anniversary editions continue their rise in popularity.
The highly anticipated game is coming to the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X on October. 25. The classic sport receives a comprehensive remastering, accompanied by a fresh narrative arc centered on Shadow the Hedgehog’s gritty showdown with arch-nemesis Black Doom in an all-new marketing campaign.