So, there's a game called Pandemic, and it's been trucking along for four years or so, receiving regular updates from developer Asmodee. It was even in Xbox Game Pass for a while, before leaving the service earlier this month. However, it looks like it'll be leaving more than Game Pass pretty soon.
According to a Reddit post, the developer was contacted about the game's removal from Steam, the iOS App Store and Google Play. In short, the developer has had to remove the game "for a multitude of reasons that we cannot disclose."
It doesn't stop there. According to the same developer response, the Microsoft version (that'll be on PC and Xbox) will be delisted on January 31st, with the Nintendo Switch version to follow by the end of July 2022.
"For now, only PC, App Store & Google Play has been removed. Microsoft version will follow Jan 31th 2022 and then Nintendo Switch by the end of July 2022."
This all comes from a supposed customer support email from the developer, but there's no reason to believe it's not true. The game's removal from Game Pass doesn't mean much, but the fact that it's no longer purchasable on Steam means something is up.
We'd hazard a guess that the game's name isn't doing it any favours in 2022, along with the content of the game itself. Still, it's unfortunate to see a developer's hard work get removed.
Did you play Pandemic on Xbox Game Pass? Let us know below.
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[source reddit.com]
Comments 4
Could be due to licensing issues with the company that owns the rights to the actual board game.
Possible that Asmodee only had the license to distribute the video game for a few years and wasn't able to negotiate a new deal with the IP owner.
I doubt that the relation to the world situation has much to do with it. Plague Inc. has seen a big boost in popularity over the last 2 years, if anything, the pandemic helped games like this.
Look at Minecraft giving it large in the UK Charts this week, physical sales.
Minecraft (NS)
FIFA 22
Super Mario Party
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Call of Duty: Vanguard
Minecraft Dungeons
Just Dance 2022
Ring Fit Adventures
Grand Theft Auto V
As long as this is for some legitimate licensing issue (or a similar reason) that makes sense. However, if it’s the result of external pressure because people are uncomfortable with the game topic or something like that, then that would be pretty lame. But it’s most likely a licensing/legal thing.
Apparently their game is as broken as a forgotten pow. I highly doubt the name has anything do with with it. Taking it down was good. It would be nice if they fixed it and put it back up.
@Kezelpaso "Hard work?" Sir, you win a gold medal. For the nicest words ever to be written about a piece of garbage game that crashes more than Cyberpunk.
@Xeno_Aura Exactly. Plague Inc popularity has spiked significantly I've noticed too. I don't know what Ben is smoking.
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