Key Highlights:
- Six Codemasters games have been delisted from Steam without prior notice.
- Titles include Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising, Toybox Turbos, Rise of the Argonauts and more.
- EA has not provided an official reason for their removal.
Electronic Arts (EA) has quietly removed six Codemasters titles from Steam, marking yet another instance of older games disappearing from digital storefronts.
The affected games include a mix of first-person shooters, racing titles, and action-adventure games, all of which were either developed or published by Codemasters before EA’s acquisition of the studio in 2021.
Quick Links:
Every EA-Codemasters Game Delisted in March 2025
The following games have been confirmed as delisted on Friday, March 14, 2025, with SteamDB flagging them under the “app_retired_publisher_request” category:
| Game Title | Release Year | Developer | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damnation | 2009 | Blue Omega Entertainment | Codemasters |
| Hospital Tycoon | 2007 | Deep Red Games | Codemasters |
| Maelstrom: The Battle for Earth Begins | 2007 | KD Vision | Codemasters |
| Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising | 2009 | Codemasters | Codemasters |
| Rise of the Argonauts | 2008 | Liquid Entertainment | Codemasters |
| Toybox Turbos | 2014 | Codemasters | Codemasters |
Why Were These Games Removed?
As of now, EA has not publicly explained why these games were delisted. However, common reasons for game removals from digital storefronts include:
- Licensing Expirations: Many older titles use licensed music, voice work, or third-party assets, which may no longer be legally viable.
- Low Sales Performance: If a game is no longer selling well, publishers may opt to remove it rather than maintain backend support.
- Corporate Strategy Shifts: EA may be prioritising newer releases and actively removing games they deem no longer profitable.
- Technical Incompatibility: Some older games may no longer function properly on modern hardware or operating systems.
The sudden delisting has sparked concern among preservationists and fans of classic games.
While some titles remain playable for those who already own them, new players now face difficulty in acquiring these games legally.
Though, there is some hope that alternative platforms like GOG (Good Old Games) may restore them.
GOG’s Dreamlist, a community-driven feature that allows players to vote for games they want preserved, currently includes several of the delisted Codemasters titles.
Although there is no guarantee of their return, community interest could influence their availability on DRM-free platforms.
Back in May and July last year, EA went on a rampage of delisting titles in bulk that shocked many in the gaming community. So it’s not a shock to hear this news today, just a bit unusual not to get an official announcement from them, thus far anyway.
Will These Games Return?
At this stage, the fate of these games remains unclear. EA has yet to confirm whether the removals are permanent or if the titles could reappear on platforms like GOG or EA Play.
For now, players interested in these games may need to explore alternative means of access, including secondary marketplaces.
As digital storefront removals become increasingly common, the gaming community continues to push for greater transparency and solutions for long-term game preservation. Whether EA will respond to player concerns remains to be seen.
Source – pcgamesn