Steam Removes Game 'Order Of War: Challenge' From User Libraries

RavenXXX2 · 31 Dec 2013 at 11:35

It was bound to happen sooner or later. Valve’s online gaming distribution website Steam has removed what appears to be the very first game from user libraries. Many games have been removed from the Steam store, but have remained in user libraries. Individuals have had games removed for various reasons as well, but this appears to be the first game, in its entirety, removed from every user library.

Square Enix shut down the servers for Order of War: Challenge and instead of merely removing the game from the storefront, Valve erased its existence altogether. For customers who purchased—and I’m tempted to write this as “purchased”—it’s like a game that never was.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkai...e-order-of-war-challenge-from-user-libraries/

Flubble · 31 Dec 2013 at 11:45

why couldn't they just release 1 final patch that takes away the online only requirement and let people play the single player?

Doomedspeed · 31 Dec 2013 at 11:46

I think in that case it's fair.

As it said, the game required the player to be connected to the servers and as the servers were permanently switched off, the game is useless.

Steam shouldn't take any 'rap' for this, it should be SE.

Dureth · 31 Dec 2013 at 11:48

Because from the developer/publishers point of view that makes them no money and indeed costs them development resources.

Steam don't really have much of an option here in removing it as the alternative would be to leave a game on the player's list that's abandoned by its developer which will never work.

Not sure Steam is the bad guy here, more the developer who decided to close shop and not release a final patch.

Fr0dders · 31 Dec 2013 at 11:50

Dureth said:
Because from the developer/publishers point of view that makes them no money and indeed costs them development resources.

Steam don't really have much of an option here in removing it as the alternative would be to leave a game on the player's list that's abandoned by its developer which will never work.

Not sure Steam is the bad guy here, more the developer who decided to close shop and not release a final patch.

Yup.

Its the developers job to release a final patch that removed the requirement for the online servers, not Steams.

RavenXXX2 · 31 Dec 2013 at 11:56

Steam sold the game, they should be banging on square enix door to get them to patch out the DRM, if not steam should remove all their games from steam and not sell future titles until square man up and do right by the consumer.

CaptainRAVE · 31 Dec 2013 at 12:46

It might be fair, but it shows how powerless we are against this kind of thing.

Mockingbird · 31 Dec 2013 at 12:48

RavenXXX2 said:
Steam sold the game, they should be banging on square enix door to get them to patch out the DRM, if not steam should remove all their games from steam and not sell future titles until square man up and do right by the consumer.

This is both logical and realistic.

Pestilence · 31 Dec 2013 at 13:01

Seems fair to me. If the game is now confirmed useless, then it should go.

I had it alongside the original Order of War, which still has a single player campaign, and it still available on Steam. Never played the multiplayer, so it doesn't affect me at all.

Fr0dders · 31 Dec 2013 at 14:18

RavenXXX2 said:
Steam sold the game, they should be banging on square enix door to get them to patch out the DRM, if not steam should remove all their games from steam and not sell future titles until square man up and do right by the consumer.

what happens when Square Enix say its not possible ?

Unless you have the code you cant say for definite that it is / isn't possible. You can't argue that its Valve's job to demand Square Enix to add a singleplayer patch.

Skeeter · 31 Dec 2013 at 14:42

Steam is merely a retailer here. The game has been killed by SE, Valve has just removed a non functioning game from its service. I assume all users with it were told too.

Nothing wrong with what Steam has done, but hey, never stand in the way of a good old Steam bashing

badcompany · 31 Dec 2013 at 16:15

ea have a habit of shutting servers down will I start losing EA games?

FrenchTart · 31 Dec 2013 at 16:18

Mockingbird said:
This is both logical and realistic.

Rroff · 31 Dec 2013 at 16:21

Dureth said:
Because from the developer/publishers point of view that makes them no money and indeed costs them development resources.

Steam don't really have much of an option here in removing it as the alternative would be to leave a game on the player's list that's abandoned by its developer which will never work.

Not sure Steam is the bad guy here, more the developer who decided to close shop and not release a final patch.

Indeed.

ncsoft did it with city of heroes - its an own goal though for developers/publishers who do this though if people don't let themselves be taken for a ride - I flat out refuse to buy any future titles from a company that just abadons a game like that.

Gimpymoo · 31 Dec 2013 at 16:48

Can they remove A.P.B Reloaded from my library?