Sega to Remove Over 60 Classic Games from Digital Stores in December 2024

In a surprising move, Sega has announced it will remove more than 70 of its beloved classic games from digital stores on December 6, 2024.

This decision comes during what has otherwise been an excellent year for the company, marked by successful releases like Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth and Sonic x Shadow Generations.

What’s Being Removed?

The biggest impact will be felt on Steam and Xbox, where numerous individual games will disappear. Here is the complete list:

PlayStation

• Sega Genesis Classics

Nintendo Switch

• Sega Genesis Classics

Xbox

1. Altered Beast
2. Crazy Taxi
3. Golden Axe
4. Monster World
5. Nights into Dreams
6. Sega Bass Fishing
7. Sega Genesis Classics
8. Shinobi
9. Sonic the Fighters
10. Streets of Rage
11. SVC: ToeJam and Earl
12. Virtua Fighter 2

Steam

1. Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle
2. Alien Soldier
3. Alien Storm
4. Altered Beast
5. Beyond Oasis
6. Bio-Hazard Battle
7. Bonanza Bros
8. Columns
9. Columns 3
10. Comix Zone
11. Crack Down
12. Crazy Taxi
13. Decap Attack
14. Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine
15. Dreamcast Collection Bundle
16. Dynamite Headdy
17. Ecco Jr.
18. Ecco the Dolphin
19. Ecco: The Tides of Time
20. ESWAT: City Under Siege
21. Eternal Champions
22. Fatal Labyrinth
23. Flicky
24. Galaxy Force 2
25. Gain Ground
26. Golden Axe
27. Golden Axe 2
28. Golden Axe 3
29. Gunstar Heroes
30. Jet Set Radio
31. Kid Chameleon
32. Landstalker: The Treasures of King Nole
33. Light Crusader
34. Mega Drive and Genesis Classic Bundle
35. Nights into Dreams
36. Phantasy Star 2
37. Phantasy Star 3: Generations of Doom
38. Phantasy Star 4: The End of the Millennium
39. RiStar
40. Sega Bass Fishing
41. Shadow Dancer
42. Shining Force
43. Shining Force 2
44. Shining in the Darkness
45. Shinobi 3: Return of the Ninja Master
46. Sonic 3D Blast
47. Sonic Spinball
48. Space Channel 5: Part 2
49. Space Harrier 2
50. Streets of Rage
51. Streets of Rage 2
52. Streets of Rage 3
53. Super Thunder Blade
54. Sword of Vermillion
55. The Revenge of Shinobi
56. ToeJam and Earl
57. ToeJam and Earl in Panic on Funkotron
58. VectorMan
59. VectorMan 2
60. Virtua Fighter 2
61. Wonder Boy in Monster World
62. Wonder Boy 3: Monster Lair

What This Means for Players

If you already own any of these games, there’s good news – you’ll still be able to play them after December 6. The games will remain in your digital library; they just won’t be available for new purchases.

Nintendo Switch Online subscribers can breathe easy too, as Sega has confirmed that Genesis games available through the subscription service won’t be affected.

Why Is This Happening?

While Sega hasn’t officially explained the reason for this mass removal, there are several interesting possibilities:

• The company is currently working on modern versions of some classic games, including Crazy Taxi and Jet Set Radio
• New game Collections/Bundles might be in development
• The timing is interesting – The Game Awards takes place just one week after the delisting date, suggesting possible announcements
• With Nintendo’s Switch 2 reportedly coming in 2025, Sega might be preparing new versions of these classics for the new console

This isn’t the first time Sega has removed games only to bring them back in a new format. For example, Sonic Generations was previously delisted but returned as part of Xbox’s Sonic Legacy Bundle in July 2024. This suggests we might see these classics return in new collections or bundles.

What Should You Do?

If you’re interested in any of these classic games, you have until December 6, 2024, at 11:59 PM PST to purchase them. After that, they’ll no longer be available for new buyers on Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, or Xbox platforms.