In a surprise turn of events, the Microsoft Store has removed a large number of Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S games, a total of 27, from its digital store exclusively for the European market. This deletion was done without any prior warning or announcement, rendering European Xbox users unable to buy these games digitally through the official Microsoft channel.
Though the games can still be purchased elsewhere, this abrupt disappearance within Europe has spawned confusion and conspiracy among the victimized gaming fraternity.
The Xbox fanbase in Europe has expressed frustration and confusion over the unannounced removal of 27 games from the Microsoft Store. Many are speculating about the reasons behind the delisting on community forums and social media, hoping for a swift resolution and the return of these titles to the digital storefront.
They were caught off guard by the abrupt delisting of 27 titles from the Microsoft Store, with some prominent titles such as Kena: Bridge of Spirits and Super Meat Boy Forever among them. Indie treasures like Hyper Light Drifter and oddball experiences like Ooblets are similarly impacted.
The sudden delisting of this eclectic group of games has left European Xbox players without a clear timeline or rationale for when they might be restored to the digital store. The complete list of the 27 Xbox games that have vanished from the European Microsoft Store includes:
Abo Khashem
Alder's Blood: Definitive Edition
Cats and the Other Lives
Creepy Tale
Creepy Tale 2
Destropolis
Exorder
Flippin Kaktus
Grim Dawn: Definitive Edition
Gylt
House
Hyper Light Drifter
Kena: Bridge of Spirits
Mundaun
One True Hero
Ooblets
Paper Dolls Original
Primal Light
Quest Hunter
REKT! High Octane Stunts
Song of the Deep
Spooky's Jump Scare Mansion: HD Renovation
Steve Jackson's Sorcery!
Strike Force Kitty
SuperMash
Super Meat Boy Forever
Will You Snail?
The eliminated games range across genres and publishers, suggesting that the issue cannot be a coordinated effort by some publishers but perhaps a bug or technical error within the Microsoft Store itself.
As of publication, Microsoft and the concerned developers and publishers have not officially announced this surprise delisting. This silence has caused European Xbox gamers to question the reasons for delisting the games and if and when they would come back on sale.
In view of the many publishers that have been affected and the coincidental delisting of several games at once, the most likely explanation seems to be a technical fault or momentary failure of the Microsoft Store system. It is not common for so many games to be delisted simultaneously, especially from various publishers, without prior warning.
Although the situation is still pending, it is hoped that this is a temporary matter and that the concerned games will be restored on the European Microsoft Store shortly. European Xbox users who were looking to buy these games are presently left without an immediate digital path to do so. They might have to look elsewhere, like physical copies if available, or wait for a possible re-listing on the Microsoft Store.
This event reminds us of the volatility of online storefronts, where games might suddenly go out of stock for purchase. For customers who enjoy digital ownership, these sudden removals can be disappointing, particularly for those who might have been waiting to buy these games down the line.
As developments unfold, additional updates are anticipated from Microsoft or the parties involved, which would hopefully enlighten us on the reason behind this abrupt vanishing and when these 27 Xbox games might be restored to the European Microsoft Store.
Although the specific cause is not confirmed, possible reasons for the bulk delisting from the European Microsoft Store include a technical error in the store system. As per reports, these errors can result in unintended removals, a compliance issue necessitating temporary removals, or a database update error.
The concurrent nature across multiple publishers indicates a systemic issue rather than a publisher-related issue. Players wait for an official statement and wish for a quick turnaround, hoping to see these games back on the virtual shelves.