WarnerBros.Discovery'ssuddenremovalofseveralCartoonNetworkandAdultSwimgameshassparkedsignificantbacklashfromfans.Withoutexplanation,titlesincludingStevenUniverse:SavetheLightandSamuraiJack:BattleThroughTimehavevanishedfromdigitalstorefrontslikeSteamandtheNintendoeShop.Thisdigitaldelistingaffectsatleastsixgames,leavingplayersunabletolegallypurchasethesepopulartitles.
Theparentcompany,WarnerBros.Discovery,hasahistoryofcost-cuttingmeasures,includingshelvingfilmsandremovingcontentfromstreamingservices.Thistrendappearstoextendtovideogames.ApreviousMarch2024delistingofAdultSwimgames,includingRickandMorty:VirtualRick-ality,causedasimilaruproar,thoughsometitleswereultimatelyreinstatedduetopublicpressure.Thistime,however,therewasnosuchreprieveforseveralbelovedCartoonNetworktitles.
OnDecember23rd,2024,awaveofdelistingsimpactedgamessuchasAdventureTime:FinnandJake'sEpicQuest,AdventureTime:MagicMan'sHeadGames,OKK.O.!Let'sPlayHeroes,StevenUniverse:SavetheLight,StevenUniverse:UnleashtheLight,andSamuraiJack:BattleThroughTime.SteamlistingssimplystatedthegameswouldbeunavailableafterDecember23rd,2024,withnofurtherexplanationfromCartoonNetworkGamesorAdultSwimGames.
<AffectedCartoonNetworkGames:
<
<- AdventureTime:FinnandJake'sEpicQuest
<
- AdventureTime:MagicMan'sHeadGames
<
- OKK.O.!Let'sPlayHeroes
<
- SamuraiJack:BattleThroughTime
<
- StevenUniverse:SavetheLight
<
- StevenUniverse:UnleashtheLight
It'snotablethatsomeCartoonNetworkgames,likeCartoonNetworkJourneysVRandMonstersAteMyBirthdayCake,remainavailable.ThesoundtrackforOKK.O.!Let'sPlayHeroesisalsostillonsale.ThelackofcommunicationfromWarnerBros.Discovery,CartoonNetworkGames,andAdultSwimGamesregardingthereasonsforthesedelistingshasfueledfanfrustration.
AdventureTime:FinnandJake'sEpicQuest,initiallyreleasedinApril2014,istheoldestgameremoved.Others,likeStevenUniverse:SavetheLightandOKK.O.!Let'sPlayHeroes,launchedin2018,whileStevenUniverse:UnleashtheLightarrivedin2021.TheremovalofSamuraiJack:BattleThroughTime,particularly,hasdrawncriticism,asitcontainedthecanonicalendingtotheshow'sfifthseason.Thesilencefromthepublishersonlyintensifiestheangerandconfusionsurroundingthisunexpectedlossofaccessibletitles.
