Games Removed From Steam – Investment Policy

Steam is a fantastic resource for PC gamers, offering a huge library of both classic and new games. Operated by Valve, it lets you buy thousands of titles digitally, from major blockbuster games to smaller independent ones. While Steam is incredibly convenient, it doesn’t have every game. Some games are never made available on the platform, and others are occasionally removed for various reasons.

It’s pretty common for games to get replaced with newer versions, but I’ve noticed a bunch have just disappeared for other reasons. Honestly, it doesn’t look like we’ll ever be able to play those ones on Steam again, which is a real bummer.

Sometimes, the reason for removing something wasn’t officially stated, so we’ll offer our best understanding of why it happened.

Okay, so here’s the deal: a lot of these games are still technically listed in the store if you dig around, but good luck finding them! The search function won’t show them, and you can’t actually buy them, which is super frustrating.

16. Spec Ops: The Line

Reason For Steam Removal: Expired License

At the beginning of 2024, the game Spec Ops: The Line was unexpectedly taken off Steam and other online stores, causing a strong reaction from players who generally praised its thought-provoking story. Like many games that become unavailable, Spec Ops: The Line was removed because its licensing agreements had expired.

Released in 2012, Spec Ops: The Line is a shooter where you play as a soldier facing tough ethical dilemmas in a stressful environment. While the game is relatively short and the gameplay isn’t groundbreaking, its story and themes are incredibly powerful and continue to resonate with players today.

15. Prey (2006)

Reason For Steam Removal: No More Keys

The original Prey, released in 2006, was a hit before Arkane Studios changed the title. Critics loved the sci-fi action game, and it was popular enough to inspire a mobile game and a remake. Although you can still find it for sale elsewhere, it’s currently not available on Steam.

It’s strange why Prey was taken off Steam. During a sale, the game apparently sold out of copies, which is unusual since Steam only sells digital downloads. The explanation is that each digital copy was linked to a unique CD-ROM key, and they ran out of those keys during the sale. Rather than figuring out a solution, it seems Steam simply removed the game.

14. Fable 3

Reason For Steam Removal: Games for Windows Live’s Discontinuation

The original Fable game is available on Steam as Fable Anniversary. While Fable 2 was never released on PC, Fable 3 was once available for PC players on Steam. However, it’s no longer possible to buy Fable 3 on Steam.

Just like with the game Prey, new product keys for Fable 3 are no longer being generated. This happened when the Games for Windows – Live marketplace shut down in 2013, and that’s probably why it’s now impossible to get new keys. However, you can still play Fable 3 on the Xbox 360.

13. Quantum Of Solace

Reason For Steam Removal: James Bond License

If you’re a James Bond fan hoping to play as 007 on Steam, you’ll need to wait for the new game coming from IO Interactive. Activision used to make James Bond video games, and they were all available on Steam, starting in 2006. Some, like Blood Stone and 007 Legends, received mixed reviews, but the game based on the 2008 film Quantum of Solace was generally well-received. However, Quantum of Solace and all of Activision’s Bond games have now been removed from Steam.

I was so bummed when I found out all the Bond games disappeared from Steam back in early 2013! Then Activision explained that the license to make Bond games had run out, and they were going to focus on original titles instead. It’s really a shame because we haven’t gotten a new Bond game since then. Luckily, you can still find Quantum of Solace, Blood Stone, and 007 Legends if you’ve still got an older console.

12. Wolfenstein (2009)

Possible Reason For Steam Removal: Could Be Due To Wolfenstein No Longer Being Under Activision

Released in 2009, this Wolfenstein game was the last in the series before it was reimagined by MachineGames. It followed up on the 2001 title Return to Castle Wolfenstein. While critics generally liked it, it didn’t sell as well as its predecessor. However, the game’s removal from Steam is likely due to something other than poor sales, as many other games have sold less and still remain available on the platform.

It’s unclear why the game was taken off Steam, but several ideas have surfaced. The Wolfenstein series features Nazis, so swastikas appear in the game. Germany prohibits Nazi symbols in video games, and while Activision tried to remove them from the German version of Wolfenstein, a few got through. This led to the game being pulled from stores in Germany, but it stayed on Steam for several years. Interestingly, the removal from Steam happened around the time Activision stopped publishing the game.

11. Deadpool

Reason For Steam Removal: Marvel License Expired

Rumors about the Deadpool game being taken down have circulated for a while. Released in 2013, the game lets players control the witty, fourth-wall-breaking mercenary, and it includes everything fans enjoy about the character. It’s frustrating for fans that the game has been removed from all online stores, and even taken off Steam on two separate occasions.

In 2014, the game Deadpool, along with other Marvel titles like X-Men: Destiny and Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions, disappeared from online stores when the licensing agreement between Marvel and Activision ended. It returned to stores in 2015 to promote the upcoming 2016 Deadpool movie, but was removed from Steam again in 2017 due to continued licensing problems. This removal also affected digital versions on Xbox and PlayStation.

10. DiRT (Various Entries)

Possible Reason For Steam Removal: Licensing Agreements (Most Likely)

Several older DiRT racing games are still available on Steam, but the 2007 edition, along with a few others, has been removed from the store. The 2007 game is especially remembered because it came out just before the tragic death of rally driver Colin McRae, the face of the franchise. As a mark of respect, his name was taken off older versions of the game and isn’t used in newer titles.

The game DiRT has been removed from Steam due to expired licensing agreements for the cars featured in the game. This also affects DiRT 2, 3, and 4, which are no longer available for purchase on the platform. However, all these games can still be found on older gaming consoles. While DiRT Rally isn’t available on Steam, its sequel is still offered there.

The same purgatory befell Grid, as only Grid Legends is available to buy on Steam.

9. Rocket League

Reason For Steam Removal: Changed To Free-To-Play

I’m a huge Rocket League fan, and even though you can’t find it on Steam anymore, that doesn’t mean the game is over! It’s amazing how popular this game about cars playing soccer became – it was a real surprise hit! It quickly built a massive community and now it’s even become a professional esports title, which is awesome.

Okay, so a lot of people have been asking why Rocket League disappeared from Steam. It’s pretty straightforward, actually. When the game first came out, you had to buy it – there were even physical copies! But then, back in 2020, the developers, Psyonix, decided to make it free-to-play. Because it’s now free, Steam doesn’t need to sell it anymore, so they removed it from their store. Makes sense, right?

8. Battlefield: Bad Company 2 (& Other Entries)

Reason For Steam Removal: Delisted After Closure Of Multiplayer Servers

Several Battlefield games have been taken off store shelves over time, and it’s always disappointing. Battlefield 1942 was a hugely important game for first-person shooters, and now newer players won’t be able to experience it. Losing Battlefield 2 is also a shame, but the biggest loss is the Bad Company games. Both are excellent and stand out as some of the best in the series, especially the second one.

It really stinks that EA shut down the multiplayer servers for those older games and pulled them off Steam – now you can’t even buy them! It’s a shame because both Bad Company games have awesome single-player modes that are totally worth playing, even if the multiplayer is gone. I’m hoping maybe someday they’ll release a remastered collection, but I’m not getting my hopes up.

7. Evolve

Reason For Steam Removal: Servers Shut Down

Though initially popular, the multiplayer game Evolve, created by Turtle Rock Studios, eventually lost players and is no longer actively played. The game was designed like an interactive monster movie, where four players hunted a single player controlling a monster that could grow stronger throughout each match.

Although Evolve had an interesting idea, it didn’t change enough over time to hold players’ attention. As fewer and fewer people played, the developers tried making the game free-to-play, but that didn’t really help. Eventually, in 2018, 2K Games closed the game’s servers and removed it from sale on Steam. While you can’t play Evolve online anymore, a community-supported version called Legacy Evolved allows players to connect directly with each other.

2026-01-24 03:36