Spec Ops: The Line delisted from Xbox store

After a sudden removal from Steam, 2K Games has also now delisted the excellent third-person shooter Spec Ops: The Line from the Xbox storefront due to expiring licenses.

In a statement given to The Verge, 2K communications director Joe Dimro said, "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."

While 2K hasn't detailed which licenses are expiring, the Spec Ops: The Line soundtrack does feature several licensed songs, such as Jimi Hendrix's rendition of The Star Spangled Banner, which plays on the main menu screen. Expired licenses for these tracks could be the reason for the delisting.

Spec Ops: The Line is considered by some to be one of the more important games of the Xbox 360 generation, thanks to the way developer Yager used game mechanics and storytelling to offer a critique of the military shooter genre. While the gunplay and clunky movement leave a fair bit to be desired, the narrative, with its twists and turns, is excellent and sticks long in the memory after the credits roll.

Thankfully, the shooter was released physically, and it is backwards compatible, so if you do want to play the legendary shooter, you can pick up a second-hand boxed copy. All 50 Spec Ops: The Line achievements remain unlockable.