Sega is taking Sonic Generations off the list, but it’s doing it in a good way
Sega removes 2011 games from list Sonic Generations from Steam and the Xbox Games Store to make way for the game’s upcoming expansive remaster, Sonic X Shadow GenerationsBut the publisher is taking a rarely seen approach in its plan to recreate the original Sonic Generations from sale — it will both remove the title from sale and remove the title from sale And Make it available to people who actually want to buy it.
While the original Sonic Generations will be pulled from sale as a standalone title on September 9, Sega said Friday that “we’ve heard your feedback and want to help preserve the game.”
“Therefore, Sonic Generations will still be available through bundles of other iconic Sonic titles on Steam and Xbox,” the publisher said. said in a message on X (formerly known as Twitter). “Existing owners of the title can still download and play. Finally, we can confirm that mods on the Steam version are NOT affected!”
The original version of Sonic Generations was pulled from the Xbox store in late July. On Steam, the game is listed under the Sonic Generations Collectionwhich contains the original game and its associated Casino night DLC. It’s unclear what bundle or bundles the original Sonic Generations will be sold in in the future, but the game is also available as part of Sega’s Sonic the Hedgehog: Ultimate Bundle on Steam.
The practice of removing original versions of games in favor of remasters or re-releases of similar titles is common, especially at Sega. In 2022, the publisher pulled Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic 2, Sonic 3 & KnucklesAnd Sonic CD of digital stores ahead of the launch of Sonic Originsto which those four matches belonged.
Other publishers have taken similar steps. Rockstar Games removed Grand Theft Auto 3, Grand Theft Auto: Vice CityAnd Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas from digital stores, just before it launched the troubled Definitive Collection of that trilogy. Ubisoft removed Beyond Good & Evil HD before the release of Beyond Good & Evil – 20th Anniversary Edition. And IO Interactive has delisted from 2016 Hitman and its 2018 sequel, but as part of a larger effort to bring those games into Hitman: World of Murder.
Sega’s plan to remove the original Sonic Generations as a standalone title, but still keeping it available, seems like the best solution for these types of situations — hopefully something other publishers will adopt as remasters, collections, and anniversary editions become more common.
Sonic X Shadow Generations will be released on October 25 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X. The game features a full remaster of the original Sonic Generations and an all-new Shadow the Hedgehog story campaign that pits the weapon-wielding boar against his old foe, Black Doom.