BioShock 2 Disappears From All Digital Marketplaces - Update

[Steven Bogos]

BioShock 2 Disappears From All Digital Marketplaces - Update

BioShock 2 has suddenly vanished from pretty much every digital retailer's library.

Update: Breathe easy, BioShock fans. 2K Games just issued us the following statement:

"BioShock 2 has been temporarily removed from the Steam, Xbox Live, and PlayStation Network marketplaces and will return to these digital stores soon. We'll let you know when that happens. In the meantime, this in no way affects the singleplayer or multiplayer experience for those who currently own BioShock 2."

Original Story: While often regarded as the weakest of the BioShock 2 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/tag/view/bioshock] is still a fun game for those seeking a return to rapture. However, if you were looking to complete your collection by picking up a copy on one of the internet's digital marketplaces, you may be out of luck, as the title has mysteriously vanished from pretty much every outlet that was selling it.

The Steam store, PSN, Xbox Live, GreenManGaming, the Apple Store and even Amazon are no longer listing the game or any of its DLC as available to purchase digitally. As for physical copies, we're assuming if you can still find a copy of the five-year-old game at a real-world retailer, you'll still be able to activate and play it.

As for the why, some reddit users are speculating [http://www.reddit.com/r/pcgaming/comments/2vbize/bioshock_2_has_ceased_being_sold_digitally_on_pc/] that this is a simple licencing issue. BioShock 2 features a number of licensed musical tracks from the 1920s to 1950s, and it's quite common for music licencing agreements to last for around five years. None of the other BioShock titles have been effected.

Will it come back? Well, considering that it was only a year ago that it got a full Steam re-release [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/128422-BioShock-2-and-Minervas-Den-Get-Full-Steam-Re-Release] to unshackle the title from the dying Games for Windows Live platform, we can say it is likely that 2k Games will try and get it back in stores.

We've reached out to 2k for an official statement.

Source: reddit [http://www.reddit.com/r/pcgaming/comments/2vbize/bioshock_2_has_ceased_being_sold_digitally_on_pc/]

Permalink

 

[crazygameguy4ever]

I have the physical copy of Bioshock 2 and i consider it the best of the trilogy of the games.

 

[Dr.Awkward]

If it does end up being a lapse on the music licenses, I hope the FCC cracks down on such things after their Net Neutrality proposal passes. In this day and age it should come off sensible that a digital product's license is permanent, considering it does not have a shelf life thanks to its status.

 

[Zhukov]

If anyone needs me I shall be over here cradling my Bioshock 2 disk and whispering reassurances.

 

[Valkrex]

Well that's a shame... Personally I feel 2 was the weaker of the three games but its still an amazing game well worth a few playthroughs.

 

[Erttheking]

Good thing I've got a physical copy of the game. Better hold onto that sucker.

 

[STENDEC1]

Gee, I'm sure all the artists who performed those tracks back in the 20s-50s are glad they're still getting paid royalties. Especially the dead ones.

Copyright Law: Protecting the rights of dead people since 1976.

 

[Scorpid]

Maybe its because of the shameful PC ports Bioshoch 1 and 2 are and the shame of it is starting to get to them.!!!!!!!!
...I really wish I could play Bioshock 1 and 2 without the CTD every 15 minutes.

 

[Neurotic Void Melody]

Hooray for physical copies! Boo to the dodgy rights of digital games ownership!

 

[Steven Bogos]

Hooray for physical copies! Boo to the dodgy rights of digital games ownership!

Just to clarify, if you already own a digital copy of the game, you still get to keep it. It's only for NEW copies being bought.

 

[LysanderNemoinis]

While it sucks to hear about it being digitally pulled, I've always thought the only reason BioShock 2 gets so much hate from critics is because it's main villain is more on the left whereas Andrew Ryan was more on the right. Same thing with most game critics practically having orgasms whenever they talk about BioShock Infinite despite gameplay wise it's just Call of Duty with magic while BS2 had better gameplay and more choice than 1 or 3.

And also...this is why I only busy digital games when I have no other choice and will always be a console gamer. At least then with 90% of games, you can get a physical disc that no one can ever take away.

 

[Sanunes]

If it does end up being a lapse on the music licenses, I hope the FCC cracks down on such things after their Net Neutrality proposal passes. In this day and age it should come off sensible that a digital product's license is permanent, considering it does not have a shelf life thanks to its status.

This has nothing to do with Net Neutrality, but everything to do with Copyright Law. They aren't removing it from people's libraries, but they are making it unavailable for future sale, they aren't able to create new physical copies of the game either for they no longer have the right to use the music that was licensed to the game if that music wasn't there I am speculating that the game would still be available considering BioShock is still available.

 

[Sanunes]

While it sucks to hear about it being digitally pulled, I've always thought the only reason BioShock 2 gets so much hate from critics is because it's main villain is more on the left whereas Andrew Ryan was more on the right. Same thing with most game critics practically having orgasms whenever they talk about BioShock Infinite despite gameplay wise it's just Call of Duty with magic while BS2 had better gameplay and more choice than 1 or 3.

And also...this is why I only busy digital games when I have no other choice and will always be a console gamer. At least then with 90% of games, you can get a physical disc that no one can ever take away.

Except time will take them away, I am starting to encounter disks that are no longer readable because they have aged beyond the lifespan of the media.

 

[Rad Party God]

Damn son!, I'm glad I bought it along with the Minerva's Den DLC before it got pulled out, I hope it gets resolved soon.

 

[RealRT]

Damn son!, I'm glad I bought it along with the Minerva's Den DLC before it got pulled out, I hope it gets resolved soon.

You do realize you can access your digital copy at any time, right? When a game gets pulled from digital stores it means it cannot be bought anymore. The existing owners still get full access to it.

And for all who go all "GLAD I GOT MY PHYSICAL COPY" - you can make a backup of any Steam game you own and burn it to a DVD, thus making your own physical copy.

 

[Nooners]

Gee, I'm sure all the artists who performed those tracks back in the 20s-50s are glad they're still getting paid royalties. Especially the dead ones.

Copyright Law: Protecting the rights of dead people since 1976.

I think that most works of art (such as music recordings) become public domain 70 years after the death of the performing artist. Not the original composer/songwriter, the PERFORMING ARTIST.

Mozart ain't gonna recieve any royalties off the stuff he wrote, but if the London Symphony released a CD featuring his works, that ONE PARTICULAR CD becomes public domain once all the orchestra members are dead for 70 years.

At least, I think that's what I remember from college. If someone want to clarify or correct me, please do so.

 

[Sanunes]

Gee, I'm sure all the artists who performed those tracks back in the 20s-50s are glad they're still getting paid royalties. Especially the dead ones.

Copyright Law: Protecting the rights of dead people since 1976.

I think that most works of art (such as music recordings) become public domain 70 years after the death of the performing artist. Not the original composer/songwriter, the PERFORMING ARTIST.

Mozart ain't gonna recieve any royalties off the stuff he wrote, but if the London Symphony released a CD featuring his works, that ONE PARTICULAR CD becomes public domain once all the orchestra members are dead for 70 years.

At least, I think that's what I remember from college. If someone want to clarify or correct me, please do so.

The problem with Copyright Law is that they keep changing it because companies like Disney don't want to lose their copyright hold on their material such as Mickey Mouse so it will always keep changing to keep those folks happy.

 

[EndlessSporadic]

Hooray for physical copies! Boo to the dodgy rights of digital games ownership!

Just to clarify, if you already own a digital copy of the game, you still get to keep it. It's only for NEW copies being bought.

I genuinely hope this is the case. Most digital distributors still keep the game on their servers for download for customers who own it, but you never know what will happen with this kind of thing. It would be a real shame to see a game with some of the best environment design disappear.

 

[Rad Party God]

Damn son!, I'm glad I bought it along with the Minerva's Den DLC before it got pulled out, I hope it gets resolved soon.

You do realize you can access your digital copy at any time, right? When a game gets pulled from digital stores it means it cannot be bought anymore. The existing owners still get full access to it.

And for all who go all "GLAD I GOT MY PHYSICAL COPY" - you can make a backup of any Steam game you own and burn it to a DVD, thus making your own physical copy.

That's what I meant, I'm glad I bought it before it got pulled out of the store, I know I still have it in my library.