Subscription services and digital distribution have reshaped the way we access video games, but they also introduce a new risk: when a game is removed from an online store, it can become nearly impossible to find.
There are many reasons why a game might be withdrawn from digital platforms, ranging from licensing issues to the shutdown of the studios behind them. Ratalaika Games now faces the latter, as several of its titles are set to be taken down from Microsoft’s digital store throughout April.
Famous for its short but entertaining titles, Ratalaika Games has confirmed that the following six games will no longer be available on Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S:
- Daggerhood
- Gravity Duck
- Infestor
- League of Evil
- Outer Terror
- Royal Frontier
Although the affected titles are low-profile indie games, their absence will be particularly disappointing for those who enjoy collecting easy achievements to boost their Xbox Gamerscore.
Gravity Duck, for instance, can be completed in under an hour, with all achievements unlocked in 30 minutes. Infestor, a pixel-art platformer about an alien hijacking human bodies, offers roughly 70 levels and takes about the same amount of time.
Perhaps the most notable game in the batch is Outer Terror, a roguelike featuring 10 characters, each with unique weapons, and about six hours of gameplay.
These titles are also expected to be pulled from PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and Steam. Since no exact dates have been provided, interested players should act quickly to add them to their library.
The removals are tied to the closure of two studios: VoxPop Games, which made Outer Terror, and Woblyware, the team behind the other five titles. However, Ratalaika Games has acquired the rights to Devious Dungeon and Random Heroes: Gold Edition, ensuring that both will remain available for the foreseeable future.
EA Joins the Delisting Trend
The disappearance of games from digital storefronts has become increasingly common. Just recently, Electronic Arts announced the removal of six titles from Steam, leaving players with a shrinking window to purchase them before they vanish for good.
Do you plan to pick up any of these games before they’re gone? Share your thoughts in the comments.