Spec Ops: The Line Gets Delisted From Steam and Other Digital Stores 

Classic beloved third-person shooter Spec Ops: The Line has been removed from Steam and other digital storefronts, including Fanatical, Gamesplanet, and Nuuvem.

In a statement sent to IGN, publisher 2K Games confirmed that Spec Ops: The Line has now been delisted from Steam and several other online stores due to partnership licenses expiring.

“Spec Ops: The Line will no longer be available on online storefronts, as several partnership licenses related to the game are expiring,” said 2K Games.

“Players who have purchased the game can still download and play the game uninterrupted.”

“2K would like to thank our community of players who have supported the game, and we look forward to bringing you more offerings from our label throughout this year and beyond.”

2K Games did not clarify which specific partnership licenses are expiring, but it is possible that they could be expiring music licenses, which have been reasons for game delistings in the past.

Spec Ops: The Line does contain several pieces of licensed music such as Jimi Hendrix’s rendition of The Star Spangled Banner, as well as songs by Mogwai, Deep Purple, Martha and The Vandellas, Alice in Chains and Björk.

The publisher also did not mention if the delisting will be permanent or only temporary as they renew the licenses.

The delisting is certainly a huge loss as Spec Ops: The Line is widely considered one of the most important games of the seventh console generation due to its daring approach to storytelling, which was very different from any other military shooter at the time.

As of writing, Spec Ops: The Line is still available for purchase on GOG and the Xbox store, but there is no hint if the games will be delisted in the aforementioned storefronts too.

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