Game over for Spec Ops: The Line as 2K ends online sales

2K Games has announced that "Spec Ops: The Line," a critically acclaimed video game, will be removed from online stores due to expired licensing partnerships. Despite the lack of details on which licenses are expiring, the game, known for its commentary on war and military shooters, features licensed music like Jimi Hendrix's rendition of the Star Spangled Banner, hinting that music rights could be a factor. This delisting highlights issues with games preservation and the availability of significant titles from previous console generations. Currently, "Spec Ops: The Line" is still available on Good Old Games (GOG) and Xbox, where it remains backwards compatible.

Why is "Spec Ops: The Line" being removed from digital storefronts?

The game is being delisted because several partnership licenses related to the game are expiring. While 2K Games hasn't specified which licenses, it's suspected that music licensing, particularly for songs like Jimi Hendrix’s "Star Spangled Banner," is likely at issue.

"Spec Ops: The Line," developed by Yager Development and released in 2012, is revered for taking a critical stance on war and the role of the player in military shooters. The game's narrative and moral choices challenged players' viewpoints on conflict within the medium, making it a standout title of the seventh console generation. In particular, its white phosphorus scene is often cited as a poignant example of video game storytelling. "Spec Ops: The Line" also spawned deep critical analysis in the gaming community, including a full book-length study titled "Killing is Harmless" by Brendan Keogh. The delisting of such a title raises ongoing concerns about preserving digital media and the legacy of influential games. Players who have already purchased the game will continue to have access to it, but the availability for new players will soon become limited.