Spec Ops: The Line gets delisted on Steam - you can still buy it elsewhere for now

Spec Ops: The Line from YAGER / 2K has been unexpectedly removed from Steam, as the store page is now delisted so it won't show up in searches and it can no longer be purchased.

It's not clear why it has been done, and no announcement has been made on it anywhere that I can see officially. So we're left to speculate for now. When this usually happens it's often some rights that expired that they don't wish to relicense or update the game to remove it like music, which Spec Ops: The Line had a fair few big names in so that's quite likely. Update 31/01/24: as I suspected, it's some licenses not getting renewed as per the statement sent to Kotaku notes - "Spec Ops: The Line will no longer be available on online storefronts, as several partnership licenses related to the game are expiring".

While the gameplay wasn't exactly all that special, but what many praised it for was the narrative as the developer tried to make it more meaningful than a lot of other shooters. For many it left a lasting impression so it's a shame if it will eventually be removed from other stores too.

For now at least you can still buy it from:

GOG (80% off until February 6th) - now delisted as of 31/01/24, 16:30 UTC

Humble Store (keys will likely run out) - Humble have now removed their offer as of 01/02/24.