Sega has placed dozens of its Master System, Genesis, Saturn, and other console titles in modern game stores over the years. But like that Dreamcast controller stashed away in your childhood garage, they're about to disappear – and getting them back will cost you a nostalgia tax.
Those who purchased any of the more than 60 games listed by Sega via Steam, Xbox, Nintendo's Switch Store, and the PlayStation Store will still have them after 11:59 PM Pacific Time on December 26. But after that, for reasons Sega doesn't make explicit: they'll be “removed and unavailable.” Titles specific to the Nintendo Switch Online “Expansion Pack” subscription will remain.
As PC Gamer has suggested, and what makes the most sense, it looks like Sega is getting ready to offer new “classics” collections at these storefronts. Sega previously rearranged its store shelves to pull Sonic games from online stores and then offer them Sonic origin. The title disappointed Ars at the time and managed to bag a number of DLC pitches.
Sega already offers a few bundles and collections in Steam, such as the Mega Drive and Genesis Classics and Dreamcast Collection. As with individual titles, buyers will retain access to them even after Sega returns with new bundles.
Shining in the darkness might be the turn-based retro RPG missing from your collection (for 99 cents).
Credit: Sega
So if you feel like you want to reclaim some Sega moments piece by piece now, while you still can, the Ars writers can recommend a few places to look. These are links to the Steam store and are usually Windows only, although they can often work through Proton on Linux or Steam Deck, and some work with older Mac OS versions. Xbox has a smaller list, while PlayStation and Nintendo currently only offer the Mega Drive Classics.
