One Of Gaming’s Greatest Shooters Is Being Removed From Digital Storefronts For Good

Update 11AM AEDT: Unfortunately, it looks like Spec Ops: The Line has also already been delisted from the Xbox Store:

Spec Ops: The Line is now officially delisted from the Xbox Store, after hitting midnight GMT pic.twitter.com/69RNU8QxAE

— Wario64 (@Wario64) January 31, 2024

Spec Ops: The Line, the 2012 soft reboot of the long-running franchise and a fantastic third-person shooter that enjoyed critical acclaim and a cult following, is being delisted from digital stores due to expiring licenses.

The game wowed players and critics at launch thanks to an incredible setting with strong narrative and themes inspired by the depictions of the horrors of war in the likes of Heart of Darkness and Apocalypse Now, but didn’t land commercially. It’s enjoyed a strong following since though, remembered for the way it presented players with morally ambiguous situations meant to subvert the classic “war shooter” video game and did a pretty bang-up job of it.

Folks begun to discover that Spec Ops: The Line was being removed from storefronts like Steam over the last day or so, but a 2K spokesperson has since confirmed that the game will be delisted from all digital storefronts in the near future due to the expiration of “several partnership licenses related to the game.”

“Spec Ops: The Line will no longer be available on online storefronts, as several partnership licenses related to the game are expiring. Players who have purchased the game can still download and play the game uninterrupted. 2K would like to thank our community of players who have supported the game, and we look forward to bringing you more offerings from our label throughout this year and beyond.”

Those who’ve previously purchased the game online will still be able to re-download and play it after it’s been removed from sale. At the time of writing, the game is still available on some storefronts including the Xbox store, so if you’re keen to hang on to this one now’s your chance.

2K Games rep on Spec Ops The Line:

"Spec Ops: The Line will no longer be available on online storefronts, as several partnership licenses related to the game are expiring.

Players who have purchased the game can still download and play the game uninterrupted.

2K would like to…

— Wario64 (@Wario64) January 30, 2024