2K is delisting Spec Ops: The Line over expiring licenses

An important piece of gaming from the 2010’s is disappearing from digital shelves. 2K and Yager Studios’ Spec Ops: The Line has officially been delisted from all digital marketplaces. Why? Expiring partnership licenses, it seems.

In a statement received by different media outlets like IGN and Inverse, 2K spoke on the matter, saying:

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

It seems likely that what expired was music licenses, as Spec Ops: The Line utilized several songs from popular musicians. Those artists range from Jimi Hendrix and The Black Angels, to Deep Purple. Expiring music licenses have been the cause for some de-listings in the past too, like Alpha Protocol in 2019 and Alan Wake, briefly, in 2017.

Walk The Line

I’ve previously written about Spec Ops: The Line as an underrated game of the 2010’s. I played the shooter during a free trial of PlayStation Plus on the PlayStation 4 and as a lover of narrative games, Spec Ops: The Line is a must-play.

The game blurs “the line” (pun intended and not) between what’s right and what’s wrong. Plus, the white phosphorus scene is, personally, one of the most memorable moments in modern gaming (and for good reason). While the gameplay and graphics were a bit rough, the game stuck around with players way after the credits rolled. Spec Ops garnered critical acclaim for its story, but sales were lower than expected.

Video game preservation is a necessity at this point, especially in the digital world. Too many titles seem to now be lost to time, never to be seen again. Many old titles from back when video games became big are endangered. In fact, according to a July 2023 study by Phil Salvador, only 13% of classic games are available on the market.

Now that Spec Ops: The Line is gone from digital storefronts, who knows what game might be next? My advice: just buy physical. It’s always available and, like a book, it just feels good to have in your hands or on a shelf.