Alpha Protocol was recently removed from Steam, leading people to wonder why. It turns out that the the reason for its removal is down to music licensing, and not because of IP ownership rights.
Earlier this week Alpha Protocol, by developers Obsidian, was removed from Steam. Sega then issues a statement saying that this was due to the expiry of Sega’s publishing rights. It turns out, Sega was incorrect, as they have since released a clarifying statement saying that they do still own the IP, it is the music rights that have expired.
While people had theorized that it could mean a remake or even a sequel, was on the horizon, it is far more annoying than that. One or more of the songs used on the soundtrack had simple reached the end of its license. What usually happens in these circumstances is that the license is renewed, so sales are not interrupted. The fact that this never happened could indicate that Sega does not feel the game is a benefit to them on Steam.
People who had already purchased the game will still be able to play it on Steam, but whether the game will return to the store or not is currently unknown. Alpha Protocol was first published in 2010. Designed by Chris Avellone and Raymond Holmes, it is a roleplaying action game where you play Michael Thornton, a secret agent who is up to the usual secret agent shenanigans.
The game launched to mixed reviews but it did become something of a cult classic over the years. While most reviewers seemed to enjoy the RPG aspect of the game, the moment to moment gameplay, and graphics, left a lot to be desired for some people. Due to the game’s poor sales, Sega never felt that Alpha Protocol deserved a sequel, so it is entirely possible that this will be the last we see of Alpha Protocol on Steam.
