VIDEOGAME maker Sega will soon pull nine beloved retro games from app stores, according to reports.
But not before making them completely free.
Crazy Taxi Classic, first released in 1999[/caption]
Golden Axe Classics, first released in 1989[/caption]
The Japanese company has revealed it is ending support for the titles, which were ported to iOS and Android several years ago.
Before they disappear, Sega has made them free to download and has removed all in-app purchases, according to Android Authority.
The games will still be playable after Sega ends its support – so you might want to go download them before they vanish from app stores.
They work offline too, so you don’t even need to be attached to Wi-Fi.
Here’s all the games that are affected:
- Crazy Taxi Classic (iOS/Android)
- Streets of Rage Classic (iOS/Android)
- Streets of Rage 2 Classic (iOS/Android)
- Super Monkey Ball: Sakura Ed. (iOS/Android)
- Virtua Tennis Challenge (iOS/Android)
- Golden Axe Classics (iOS/Android)
- Shining Force Classics (iOS/Android)
- Sonic CD Classic (iOS/Android)
- Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Ep. II (iOS/Android)
There doesn’t appear to be an official announcement from Sega; however, the prices have already been removed on both the Apple and Android app stores.
An in-game pop-up says: “Support for this game will be discontinued, but you can continue playing offline!”
These games were part of the Sega Forever programme, which made classic retro games available on modern platforms.
However, this programme was shut down in 2023.
Sega reportedly already delisted other titles included in Sega Forever, including Altered Beast Classic and The Revenge of Shinobi Classic, from app stores in 2023.
There doesn’t appear to be an official deadline for their removal from app stores.
So you should install them now while you have the chance.
“Love me some retro action…. Or as I like to call them, “games from my youth”,” one person wrote on X.
Another added: “Free is free! And some real classics in there.”
While a third person wrote: “Bro why is this not always the way. Literally every closed “eshop” should just go out like this when they do (but they shouldn’t).”
Sonic The Hedgehog 4, first released in 2012[/caption]
Virtua Tennis Challenge, first released in 1999[/caption]
Shining Force Classics, first released in 1992[/caption]
