Earlier this week, Spec Ops: The Line was abruptly pulled from a number of PC retailers, including Steam and Fanatical.
Originally spotted by Wario64, the shooter is listed as “no longer available” on Valve’s storefront. At time of writing, neither 2K or developer Yager have given an explanation as to why.
Games get delisted on a regular basis. But Spec Ops’ removal is so odd because it’s still purchasable on some third-party PC stores, plus the Xbox Store.
If it gets delisted from more PC stores, Xbox will be the only way to purchase the game. Unlike other mid-tier titles from the 2010s, it’s never received a modern remaster (or remake), and 2K’s never indicated it’d get such a treatment.
Further, it goes to highlight how vital preservation should be for the industry, particularly as games from the early 2010s are gradually being delisted.
Spec Ops: The Line released in 2012 for PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360. The game saw critical acclaim (mainly for its narrative), but failed commercially, effectively ending the military shooter series.
Game Developer reached out to 2K for comment, and will update when a response is given. In 2012, Yager’s Richard Pearsey wrote about the game’s narrative design and its development growth, which you can read here.
