If you wanted any of those older digital releases of Sonic 1, 2, 3 & Knckles, and CD, you might want to get them soon, because most of them are getting delisted on May 20. This news comes via a press release from SEGA, which confirmed the delisting of these games across all platforms outside of the Nintendo Switch and mobile.
Specifically, every individually released version of Sonic 1, 2, 3, Sonic & Knuckles, and Sonic CD are all getting delisted from Steam, Xbox, Playstation 3 and Playstation Now. The SEGA AGES releases of Sonic 1 and 2 on Switch will remain, as will Sonic 1, 2 and CD on iOS and Android. The 3DS releases have yet to be specified, but with that digital service ending next year they likely aren’t bothering with it.
Sonic Channel released a somewhat more detailed list of what was being delisted, though while they say Sonic CD will be among the games getting delisted, it’s not on the list. This is likely just an oversight. You can find that here.
It’s out with the older ports, and in with the newer ones with more features.
Hm. Not thrilled about this. Theoretically this bundle will be equivalent or superior to all the individual games being delisted via the “Classic” mode included in Origins. Practically though, the Steam versions of each game in particular support a lot of romhacks through the workshop that probably will not be supported in this release. I think they might have some limited VR too which I very much doubt Origins will have.
It totally makes sense that Sega is removing the old games so as not to confuse new buyers, but I really don’t like games being delisted under any circumstances. It would probably cause them some headaches, but I wish they just left all the old stuff up.
This… is a dangerous idea. VERY dangerous.
I have optimistic faith in Origins, but attempting to erase the classics and originals like this is a bad step backwards.
Rockstar did this with the older GTA games when they released the Definitive Trilogy and that debacle cost them dearly, taking away years and years of customer goodwill. It’s fine to say these are the definitive way to play the games, but attempting to force players onto them by removing the classics is… its not a popular move.
I can empathize with everyone lamenting this, but at the same time there are so many other ways to play these games it’s pretty difficult to be surprised or feel bad at this point. 🤷♂️
Can’t help but wonder (specifically for Steam) what this means for the Sega Mega Drive and Genesis Classics ports. If we already have them purchased, will we still be able to redownload them in the future? I feel like this raises a lot of similar questions but that link doesn’t seem to answer any.
Of course. You bought them so they’re in your library. They’ll just be removed from sale for new purchases.
I really don’t like the idea of delisting of the Sega Classics games from Steam. They’re not even close to the same thing as Sonic Origins. The Sega Classics versions are emulated originals (complete with a hackable ROM) where the Sonic Origins versions are Taxman’s remakes. There is a huge difference there. Sega Classics has always been my example of how to properly do a retro game release, and I hate to see Sega dismantling part of it. Just release Origins alongside Sega Classics – I’d probably still grab Origins in order to play the Sonic 2 remake on something other than a phone.
Not unexpected but I hate how much devs don’t care about preserving media, not to mention I’m sure there are people out there who could never be bothered to spend the money on later consoles. I myself have given up on the new console generation, my broke ass just can’t justify spending all that money. Maybe I can get a PS5 when the PS6 comes out but I wonder if I’ll ever get another new console as I get more and more disillusioned with the wack ass video game industry.
Keep in mind, this is the publisher, not the developers.