Summary
- Warner Bros. Discovery has recently delisted several Cartoon Network games from digital storefronts like Steam and the Nintendo eShop, sparking significant fan backlash.
- The delisted games include popular titles such as Steven Universe: Save the Light, Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time, and others, with no clear explanation provided by the publisher.
- The oldest game affected by this delisting, Adventure Time: Finn and Jake's Epic Quest, was originally released in 2014.
Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent company of Cartoon Network Games and Adult Swim Games, has taken the controversial step of delisting at least six of their titles from digital platforms. This action, which occurred on December 23, affects games such as Adventure Time: Finn and Jake's Epic Quest, Adventure Time: Magic Man's Head Games, OK K.O.! Let's Play Heroes, Steven Universe: Save the Light, Steven Universe: Unleash the Light, and Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time. These games are no longer available for purchase on Steam, the Nintendo eShop, and other digital storefronts, leaving fans unable to legally acquire these beloved titles.
This move is part of a broader cost-cutting strategy by Warner Bros. Discovery, which has also seen the company shelve nearly completed movies and remove original films from streaming services. Earlier in March, a similar situation arose with Adult Swim indie games, where titles like Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-ality, Duck Game, and Fist Puncher were slated for delisting. Although some of these games were eventually spared due to public outcry, others were not as fortunate, leading to another wave of delistings.
The delisted games now carry a message on Steam stating they "will no longer be available for sale after Dec. 23rd, 2024," signed by either "Cartoon Network Games" or "Adult Swim Games." However, not all games under these labels have been affected; for instance, Cartoon Network Journeys VR and Monsters Ate My Birthday Cake remain available on Steam, as does the soundtrack for OK K.O.! Let's Play Heroes.
The oldest game to be delisted, Adventure Time: Finn and Jake's Epic Quest, was released in April 2014. Other affected titles include Steven Universe: Save the Light and OK K.O. Let's Play Heroes from 2018, and Steven Universe: Unleash the Light from 2021. The delisting of Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time has been particularly contentious, as it serves as the canonical ending to the show's fifth season, leaving fans frustrated and disappointed by the lack of warning and explanation from Warner Bros. Discovery.