SUMMARY
- Spec Ops: The Line is a third-person military shooter, developed by YAGER in 2012, the game challenges players' morality.
- Players recently found Spec Ops: The Line is unavailable for purchase on the game's Steam page.
2012’s cult shooter Spec Ops: The Line was recently delisted from Steam, which has left the fans and community bewildered. Even the developers do not agree with the game being delisted, however, Valve has gone ahead irrespective.
Spec Ops: The Line is a third-person military shooter game developed by YAGER. The game was released in 2012, and was “designed to challenge players’ morality.” It explores the dark side of war realistically. Spec Ops: The Line is set in Dubai after a fierce sandstorm, wherein players, along with the other members of the Delta Recon Team, must find survivors. They must also investigate a mysterious radio signal, endure war, and encounter Col. John Konrad.
Why was Spec Ops: The Line delisted?
When players headed to the Steam page of Spec Ops: The Line, they discovered that the game was no longer available to purchase. Although the game does have all the other contents regarding the game including the game description, reviews, image gallery, as well as system requirements.
Spec Ops: The Line has been delisted from Steam https://t.co/DDxVUaOaWi
still available on Xbox Store and other PC 3rd party stores pic.twitter.com/JIW8JgitGv
— Wario64 (@Wario64) January 29, 2024
Just the purchasing options have been replaced by a one-line notice that reads, “Spec Ops: The Line is no longer available on the Steam store.”
A user named ‘Wario64’ on X (formerly Twitter) pointed out that the Spec Ops game is still currently available from other digital storefronts including the Xbox store and GOG.
Makes no sense – especially because the themes portrayed in @SpecOpsTheLine are more relevant now than ever. Why has this happened @2k @Steam ? https://t.co/BnHnxzQRPp
— Cory Davis (@Snak3Fist) January 30, 2024
Cory Davis, the game’s director, spoke about the issue via a tweet on X that read, “Makes no sense – especially because the themes portrayed in @SpecOpsTheLine are more relevant now than ever.” He further tagged the publisher and Steam asking about what exactly happened, “Why has this happened @2k @Steam?” Former YAGER developer, Enrique Colinet, also shared: “I do really hope there is a good reason for this, otherwise this is almost insulting,” he added.
The publisher of the game as well as Valve have not given any reason for the game’s removal from the platform. Ironically, it seems like even the developers are clueless about the delisting and are as confused and unaware as the fans about the issue.
Is Spec Ops: The Line remake in the works?
As the game was delisted from the digital storefront, it led to many users believing that it could be a hint that a remake of the game was in development. Interestingly, within just two years of launch, the developers had stated that there would be no sequel to the game.
However, an interview with creative director Cory Davis in 2022 has resurfaced amidst the delisting news. In the interview, Cory expressed his willingness to release a remaster in the future. “There were, on the business side, things that I wasn’t involved with that ended up with Yager and 2K not wanting to work together after the project, and there were conversations about additional campaigns,” he said.
He added, “There were conversations about full sequels. Now more recently, there’s been conversations about remastering as well. It’s something that I’m starting to tell people, so I don’t really care, but I’ll definitely be diving back into that universe in the future.”
Not only did Cory express his desire, but he also assured that some people at 2K were also interested. However, at that time there was a dispute between the studio and the publisher regarding the ownership of the IP.
On the other hand, a lot of users took this as an opportunity to emphasize the disadvantage of purchasing digital games instead of physical ones. They argue while buying a digital copy, there is always a possibility of the game to vanish one day. Meanwhile, some fans suggest that the delisting could possibly be due to a music licensing issue.
