Right at the tail end of January, we shared news on an Xbox glitch for Alan Wake Remastered where players could claim the game for free via a Free Play Days trial for Alan Wake 2. Well, unfortunately, Microsoft has begun revoking these free copies - more than a month after players first claimed them.
Yep, we're starting to see reports online from folks getting messages directly from Xbox about the team "cancelling your order" and "removing it from your 'My games & apps' list". In addition, the ever-present Wario64 has shared news of this on social media - showcasing images of both the original glitch and the revoking message players are now receiving.
"You recently acquired a version of Alan Wake Remastered that was not intended to be available. Therefore we are cancelling your order, refunding any payment made, and removing it from your "My games & apps" list. We apologise for the inconvenience."
Honestly, this is a bit of a bummer really, especially given that it's been around six weeks since these free copies were first claimed. Having said that, it's easily feasible that players could have claimed and beaten Alan Wake Remastered in that time - and after all, it was clearly an unintended loophole that cropped up via Alan Wake 2's free trial period.
We're also curious to see if a similar thing happens with Dragon Ball FighterZ. Last month, players could claim a free Xbox Series X|S version of the Bandai Namco fighter in a very similar fashion to Alan Wake Remastered. For now, we haven't heard of any casualties with that one - but it might be worth giving the game a go if you managed to claim a copy last month!
What do you make of this move from Microsoft? Tell us whether you've had the dreaded message yet down in the comments.
Comments 16
Ah well a game free for a month isn't bad hopefully those who got the game completed it in time!
Easy come easy go I suppose. Better than punishing people who got it when it was not intended.
Can't complain too much, was always an opportunistic grab.
Yeah, got the message from MS last night.
Oh, well. I already owned it quite genuinely on disc for PS5 and digitally due to the code my physical PS5 copy of AW2 came with. I’ll survive having the Xbox digital copy vanish into the ether.
Kinda reminds me of the few times this sort of thing happened on Sony’s side. I still have access to the glitched-free games they had, like a couple of digital PSP games as well as the God of War 1&2 PS3 remasters.
Sony never revoked access to those. Guess MS is more of a stickler, or Remedy kicked up that much of a fuss since they just barely made a profit on AW2 and need the cash from actual sales!
I turned my Xbox offline and completed it just so it didn't happen. It felt wrong but it's not my fault.
Yeah I got the message today too lol. Still, we had a month to complete it lol.
Should have played it, but I was too busy playing other games. Eh, doesn't matter. 😂
That happened to me. It's really not the end of the world.
@Kaloudz yeah that's what I thought "kinda on me for not finishing it in the month"
@abe_hikura Yup lol! I thought exactly the same thing. Should have jumped on it sooner lol.
@Kaloudz I haven't got the message yet, I do own AW2 from before the offer so maybe they think I got it that way (watch them yank it from me for saying that)
@abe_hikura 🤣🤣🤣 More than likely but it'd be nice if you secured it due to owning the sequel.
@Kaloudz I bought AW2 in a sale (got DLC separately) , the next sale had the deluxe edition at the same price and you also got AW remaster for free, I was... displeased
@abe_hikura Lmao. I would be too. It sucks when that happens doesn't it. But then, so does how digital refunds work. That's my biggest gripe with the digital market. If you so much as boot it up, wham, you're screwed.
I honestly think that's scummy of MS to do that a month later. It was their ***** up anyway so they should have let people keep the game.
@EdgarTheBug jesus dude, use your inside voice. That's some f_cked up sh1t
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