Sega retires 2011 games Sonic Generations from Steam and Xbox Games Store to make room for the upcoming extended remaster of the game, Sonic X Generation Shadow. However, the publisher took a sporadic approach in its plan to remove the original Sonic Generations from sale – this will cause the title to be withdrawn from sale AND make it available to people who actually want to buy it.
Although the original Sonic Generations will be removed from sale as a standalone title on September 9, Sega said on Friday that “we’ve listened to your feedback and want to help preserve this game.”
“This is why, Sonic Generations “It will continue to be available in bundles with other iconic Sonic titles on Steam and Xbox,” the publisher said. he said in a post on X (formerly known as Twitter). “Current owners of the title will still be able to download and play. Finally, we are happy to confirm that mods on the Steam version will NOT be affected!”
Original version Sonic Generations was pulled from the Xbox store at the end of July. On Steam, the game is listed under Sonic Generations Collectionwhich contains the original game and its Casino Night DLC. It is 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 the Sega bundle Sonic the Hedgehog: Ultimate Pack on Steam.
The practice of removing original versions of games in favor of remasters or re-releases of similar titles is common, especially with Sega. In 2022, the publisher withdrew Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic 2, Sonic 3 and KnucklesAND Sonic album from digital stores before the premiere Sonic’s Beginningsincluding these four games.
Other publishers have taken similar steps. Rockstar Games has been removed Grand Theft Auto 3, Grand Theft Auto: Vice CityAND Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas from digital stores, just before the trilogy’s troublesome Definitive Collection launches. Ubisoft removed Beyond Good and Evil HD before release Beyond Good & Evil – 20th Anniversary Edition. And IO Interactive withdrew from circulation 2016. Hitman and its 2018 sequel, but as part of a larger effort to bring these games to Hitman: World of Assassination.
Sega’s plan to remove the original Sonic Generations as a standalone title but still keeping it available seems like the best solution for this type of situation – we hope other publishers start to adopt this as remasters, collections, and anniversary editions become more common.
Sonic X Generation Shadow Coming to Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X on October 25. The game features a full remaster of the original Sonic Generations and an all-new Shadow the Hedgehog story campaign, pitting the gun-toting hog against his elderly nemesis, Black Doom.
