SEGA released a new FAQ regarding their Sega Classics collection, which includes games from SEGA's history, ranging from their Mega Drive / Genesis classics to some Dreamcast classics as well.

However, the news are not uplifting, as SEGA announced in their FAQ that they will be delisting games from their SEGA Classics catalogue from virtual storefronts. Here's the full list of 60+ titles that will be removed from Steam:

Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle

Alien Soldier

Alien Storm

Altered Beast

Beyond Oasis

Bio-Hazard Battle

Bonanza Bros

Columns

Columns III

Comix Zone

Crack Down

Crazy Taxi

Decap Attack

Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine

Dreamcast Collection Bundle

Dynamite Headdy

Ecco Jr.

Ecco the Dolphin

Ecco: The Tides of Time

ESWAT: City Under Siege

Eternal Champions

Fatal Labyrinth

Flicky

Galaxy Force II

Gain Ground

Golden Axe

Golden Axe II

Golden Axe III

Gunstar Heroes

Jet Set Radio

Kid Chameleon

Landstalker: The Treasures of King Nole

Light Crusader

Mega Drive and Genesis Classic Bundle

NiGHTS into Dreams

Phantasy Star II

Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom

Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium

Ristar

SEGA Bass Fishing

Shadow Dancer

Shining Force

Shining Force II

Shining in the Darkness

Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master

Sonic 3D Blast

Sonic Spinball

Space Channel 5: Part 2

Space Harrier II

Streets of Rage

Streets of Rage 2

Streets of Rage 3

Super Thunder Blade

Sword of Vermilion

The Revenge of Shinobi

ToeJam & Earl

ToeJam & Earl in Panic on Funkoton

VectorMan

VectorMan 2

Virtua Fighter 2

Wonder Boy in Monster World

Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair

Other consoles will also be impacted by this delisting, as Xbox will have around 12 games being delisted, and both PlayStation and Nintendo Switch will have SEGA Genesis Classics completely delisted from their storefronts.

SEGA will be delisting these selected games and bundles on December 6th at 11:59pm PST, making them unavailable for purchase once the deadline arrives. It's worth noting that SEGA did specify that those that have already purchased and own certain titles or bundles from this list will still be able to download and play said titles and those will remain in their libraries.

Source

 

[Oliver-Hoschi]

Dont care about it, because sega is doing the same shit like capcom.
Instead of putting some work and effort in their older games (new soundtrack or graphic Updates or complete remakes), we get the same old games on all consoles. Sure it is not a bad Thing in general, but who cares about a collection on every console? Most consoles have emulators. No need for collections.
Instead of charging every customer for the same old shit, they should make remakes.

I'm now waiting over 20 years for a phantasy star 3 & 4 and Shining Force 1 remake.

Stop the collections and make remakes!

 

[thekarter104]

Which games of these are physical releases? Fck digital....

 

[Bladexdsl]

oh noz...anyway couldn't give 6 fucks back to emulation

 

[Purple_Shyguy]

Are they gonna be removing any games from the Switch Online app?

This isn't very clear from them though.

 

[BlusterBong]

oh noz...anyway couldn't give 6 fucks back to emulation

how do we tell them that this was actually legal ROMs getting fucked here?

 

[Clydefrosch]

guess theres a limit to how user friendly they can be.

at least you still have your sonic fangames

 

[Bagel Le Stinky]

New compilation alert?

 

[NumberXIIIEdwin]

I should probably fire up the ‘ol PS3 and finally buy the NiGHTS port like I’ve been meaning to for a while now.

 

[SS4]

Well, glad i got Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection on PS3, since most of these games are on it.

Still a weird move to remove those unless they plan to release a new collection that wil be exclusive on some platform like on the new nintendo console coming out or something . . .

 

[nine0nine]

has any company EVER shown interest in game preservation? People seem to be surprised when any company removes games from store fronts or completely ignores games from their history but i dont recall this ever not being the case.

I think the simple fact is that no one big company cares about 'game preservation', they just want to sell games and make money and if bundling old games into whatever the current choice is, they will do it until it isnt making them money.

 

[Lumstar]

In the case of the md games, you can just copy and paste the rooms without any tools, even ROM hacks.



Many of these games thought I'd expect Sega to own the rights though e.g. altered beast and the maker of the emulator says they do work for hire. I know at least one of JSR's composers said Sega owned the rights for at least the songs they wrote.

Overall I have a feeling something else is at play.

For some of the games, rights snags are possible. Like Sega doesn't have complete ownership of Toejam and Earl.

 

[NinStar]

has any company EVER shown interest in game preservation? People seem to be surprised when any company removes games from store fronts or completely ignores games from their history but i dont recall this ever not being the case.

I think the simple fact is that no one big company cares about 'game preservation', they just want to sell games and make money and if bundling old games into whatever the current choice is, they will do it until it isnt making them money.

You are not wrong. The only effective way to preserve commercial games is by pirating, and that of course is not in the interest of any for-profit company. Some people are still in denial about it as well.

 

[LoggerMan]

They'll be back in some form. Sega wants to be a media juggernaut and they are platform agnostic of course.

Post automatically merged: Nov 8, 2024

They are probably gonna launch yet another compilation.

Maybe a subscription service. For the right price I'd pay, if they are serious about making more games in their classic Francises. If it had Jet Set Radio Future, with the original soundtrack, I'd pay.

 

[MasterJ360]

And yet these same big game companies wonder why we resort to ROM sites.....

 

[ChronosNotashi]

Okay, I'm not usually one to get explicit with my words when talking about another company (I typically try to argue from a perspective that doesn't have a need for them), but I feel, this one time, it's fitting for the following message to Sega:

-ahem-

What the HELL, Sega?! WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL?!

It was one thing when they delisted the Sonic Genesis/CD games prior to Sonic Origins' release. At least there was an announcement for Origins prior to the delisting, so we always saw it coming. But delisting ALL of their Genesis to Dreamcast games without any real news regarding replacements, save for a video from months ago hinting at remakes for a select few games? What are they THINKING?!

 

[tech3475]

For some of the games, rights snags are possible. Like Sega doesn't have complete ownership of Toejam and Earl.

That one I could understand, but as I said they're also removing stuff I'd expect them to wholey own the rights to.

I also looked up who made the emulator and it said they do 'work for hire', so I'd also expect the rights to belong to Sega.

 

[Whole lotta love]

Genesis Classics is a laggy mess so nothing lost there.

 

[HarveyHouston]

Archiving is dead. Long live the 85%+ games which were never archived. https://www.theverge.com/2023/7/14/...reservation-video-game-history-foundation-esa

 

[lordelan]

This was among the best examples of companies making their retro roms available to purchase legally.
Why, SEGA? Just why?
Gladly enough I already own the Genesis Classics. However when I try to access the game page it says

although I'm logged in and own it. I even accessed it from the "my games" section.
Nice, SEGA...

 

[SDA]

It's like going back to the Sega vs Nintendo days. What logical reason is there to remove Sega's greatest games from when they used to produce gaming consoles?