Warner Bros. Discovery's sudden removal of several Cartoon Network and Adult Swim games has sparked significant backlash from fans. Without explanation, titles including Steven Universe: Save the Light and Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time have been delisted from digital storefronts like Steam and the Nintendo eShop. This leaves fans unable to legally purchase these beloved games.
At least six games have been affected by this recent delisting, all falling under the Warner Bros. Discovery umbrella. This cost-cutting measure mirrors similar actions taken by the company in the past, including shelving films and removing content from streaming services. A previous delisting event in March 2024, involving Adult Swim titles like Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-ality, also caused controversy. While some games were reinstated then due to public pressure, others were not so lucky.
The December 23rd, 2024 delisting affected several popular titles, including:
- Adventure Time: Finn and Jake's Epic Quest
- Adventure Time: Magic Man's Head Games
- OK K.O.! Let's Play Heroes
- Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time
- Steven Universe: Save the Light
- Steven Universe: Unleash the Light
Interestingly, some Cartoon Network games remain available, such as Cartoon Network Journeys VR and Monsters Ate My Birthday Cake, along with the soundtrack for OK K.O.! Let's Play Heroes. However, Warner Bros. Discovery, Cartoon Network Games, and Adult Swim Games have yet to offer a reason for these removals.
The oldest title affected, Adventure Time: Finn and Jake's Epic Quest, dates back to April 2014. Other affected games were released between 2018 and 2021. The delisting of Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time, which features the canonical ending to the show's fifth season, has been particularly criticized by fans. This event follows a similar pattern of mass delistings, highlighting the ongoing concern over the company's handling of its digital game catalog.