In a surprising move, Disney has quietly removed 14 of its licensed games from the Steam platform, leaving fans of classic titles like Disney’s Hercules Action Game and Finding Nemo unable to make new purchases. This development was first highlighted by users HappyCatEW on Steamgifts and Wario64 on Twitter, with Polygon also reporting on the situation.
Games Disappearing from Digital Shelves
The games in question, primarily from the 1990s and early 2000s, are still playable for those who previously owned them, but they are no longer available for purchase. The most recent title among the removals is Disney Fairies: Tinker Bell’s Adventure from 2014, while the oldest, Stunt Island, dates back to 1992. Although many of these games received mediocre reviews, their removal raises concerns, particularly since Steam was often the sole platform for accessing these titles on modern systems.
Notably, some of the removed games, such as Afterlife and Stunt Island, were also available on GOG, and their simultaneous removal from both platforms means they are now entirely inaccessible on PC for those who do not possess physical copies for older consoles. The complete list of removed games includes:
- Afterlife
- Armed and Dangerous
- Disney’s Chicken Little: Ace in Action
- Disney Fairies: Tinker Bell’s Adventure
- Disney’s Hercules Action Game
- Disney Planes
- Disney The Princess and the Frog
- Disney Winnie the Pooh
- Disney•Pixar Cars: Radiator Springs Adventures
- Disney•Pixar Finding Nemo
- Disney•Pixar Toy Story Mania!
- Lucidity
- Phineas and Ferb: New Inventions
- Stunt Island
The reason behind Disney’s decision remains unclear, as the company has yet to provide any official comment on the matter. This latest development adds to the ongoing narrative of Disney’s fluctuating commitment to its gaming business. Following a surge of licensed games in the 90s and 00s, Disney’s presence in the gaming industry diminished significantly during the 2010s, seemingly disappearing for several years.
Recently, however, Disney has made a tentative return to gaming with titles featuring its classic characters, such as Disney Dreamlight Valley and Disney Illusion Island. Yet, the company appears to be slowing down once again, particularly concerning properties outside the Marvel and Star Wars franchises, which have a more complex and established history in video games. The most recent non-Marvel/Star Wars titles released in 2023 include Tron: Identity, Gargoyles Remastered, and Disney Speedstorm, but there are currently no announced plans for future releases in this vein.
