As Sega prepares to delist over 60 classic games from various digital platforms, the gaming community has raised significant concerns about the quality of existing ports and the implications of digital game ownership. This move, scheduled for December 26, 2023, has sparked discussions about game preservation and consumer rights.
Quality Control Issues
Community members have highlighted significant quality issues with some of the current ports. Notably, the Steam version of Crazy Taxi has been identified as problematic, suffering from broken analog input controls and missing original audio content. These technical shortcomings suggest that not all classic ports have received the attention to detail that fans expect.
Licensing and Availability Strategy
Industry observers speculate that licensing agreements may be driving the delisting decision. As one community member suggests in a highly-discussed comment:
Maybe a controversial opinion, but screw them for delisting games. Why would I buy these games when they obviously have no interest in selling them? To me, this is a license to go download the ROMs. Source
Platform-Specific Considerations
An important distinction has emerged regarding the Sega Ages line of games, particularly on the Nintendo Switch. These releases, developed by M2, are reportedly unaffected by the delisting and are considered superior versions of the classic titles. This suggests Sega may be consolidating its classic game offerings while maintaining premium versions on select platforms.
Digital Ownership Concerns
The delisting has reignited debates about digital game ownership. While players who purchase these games before the deadline will retain access, the move highlights the temporary nature of digital storefronts and raises questions about long-term game preservation.
The situation serves as a reminder that digital distribution, while convenient, comes with inherent risks to game preservation and accessibility. As gaming platforms evolve, the industry continues to grapple with balancing commercial interests against preserving gaming history.
Source: Ars Technica - Sega is delisting 60 classic games from Steam, so now's the time to grab them