Sega is removing classic games and collections across multiple platforms today

Important takeaways

The mass delisting of many of its classic games Sega announced in November will take place later today.
The games will be removed from multiple storefronts at 11:59 PM PST on December 6, 2024.
It's still unclear why Sega is doing this and if it has plans for the games it's delisted outside of the confirmed reboots of Crazy Taxi and Jet Set Radio.

Sega quietly announced that it would be removing many of its classic games and collections across multiple platforms last month, revealing via an FAQ page for its Genesis and Mega Drive Classics Collection that the games will be was removed from sale on December 6, 2024. If you're reading this on the day it was written, you still have a chance to buy these games before they're removed from Steam, Xbox, and other platforms where the titles are available.

The mass delisting of classic Sega games will take place at 11:59 PM PSTso even if you're reading this on December 7th, you may still have a chance to buy the games depending on where you are in the world. The aforementioned Genesis and Mega Drive collection is at the core of the listing, leaving showcases on all major platforms.

sonic scratching his head in front of crazy taxi and golden yxt shirts.

Family

Sega has just released a merch range for the games it plans to remove

This plus the delisting has fueled rumors that an announcement about Sega's promised reboot is coming.

It appears to be the only game affected on PlayStation and Nintendo Switch. However, most of the games that make up the collection that are available to purchase individually through Steam and the Xbox Games Store are also delisted. The original Golden Ax Trilogy, Ristar, Altered Beast and Columns among them, the only games from the collection that don't seem to be affected are the Sonic games that won't be leaving storefronts for a few hours.

Sega will be removing many games from multiple stores later today

Buy Crazy Taxi now before it's too late

The mass delisting of Sega games doesn't just stop with the Genesis. In fact, the biggest game being removed from Steam and the Xbox Games Store today is undoubtedly Crazy Taxi. Part of the Dreamcast Collection bundle, which is also leaving Steam today, and Jet Set Radio are part of today's removals suggesting that their departures may have something to do with the confirmed reboots for both of those series.

If you already own any of the games being removed today, or purchase them before they are removed, you will still be able to play them after they are removed from digital storefronts.

Although the games will be removed today, Sega has still not explained why the games are being removed from sale. Hopefully there will be some sort of release date reveal for their Crazy Taxi and Jet Set Radio reboots soon, and since the games won't be available to buy anywhere digitally starting tomorrow, you'd hope those currently unknown release dates are just around the corner .

The legendary Crazy Taxi first launched in arcades in 1999 and soon became one of the Dreamcast's best-selling titles. Your job, as a stunt-loving taxi driver, is to ensure that your fares reach their destinations within the time limit.
Jet Set Radio

Jet Set Radio is a pulse-pounding action-adventure game originally released on the Sega Dreamcast in 2000. Developed by Smilebit and published by Sega, the game features extreme inline skating, graffiti and tagging mechanics, boss battles and more.
SEGA Mega Drive and Genesis Classics

SEGA's collection of Mega Drive & Genesis Classics comes to a new generation, now updated with even more features: online multiplayer, achievements, mirror mode, rewind, save state, VR and more! Over 50 classic games in one great package. Get into the classics!

The thing is, there are no known plans to remove the bulk of the games from sale today. You would think that Sega must have something planned and we just don't know about it yet. Maybe we'll hear something from them at The Game Awards, but if that's the plan, it's strange that Sega would remove the games this weekend, almost a week before this year's event.