UPDATE, July 26:
You can now no longer purchase any of the Marvel: Ultimate Alliance games anywhere online. Though the rumours of them getting taken off Steam have turned out to be true, none of us really expected them to get delisted this fast. What makes things extra awkward is the fact that not only has it been two days since these games have gone on sale, but they've also been removed without any sort of warning or heads-up.
There's really not much else to say other than - we hope you got them while they were available at a discount.
Original story, July 24:
If you're a fan of comic book video games, then you're painfully aware of the fact that IP rights are a tricky thing to handle, what with various different titles getting taken off Steam and other marketplaces simply due to various contractual obligations and their subsequent dismissal. The latest case of license expiration may well be happening with the Marvel: Ultimate Alliance games.
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance titles are basically Marvel-themed hack 'n' slash power fantasies, where players get to create their own team of heroes by selecting from a roster of up to 24 characters (Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2), ranging from Wolverine, over Iron Man and Spider-Man, all the way to Captain America.
Whereas the first game features a more-or-less uninspired singleplayer story, the second title focuses on the Civil War plotline, with superheroes deciding to duke it out against one another, depending on whether they support or rise up in opposition to the Superhuman Registration Act. This works as a setup for both cooperative and competitive play, which stands as a bit of a signifier for the Marvel: Ultimate Alliance games.
What might make one believe that these games are soon getting delisted is the fact that not only have both just been heavily discounted on Steam, with the Marvel: Ultimate Alliance Bundle now sitting at 75% of its default, at only €14,99, but also due to the fact that it's been almost two years since their official Steam release.
Furthermore, it wasn't too long ago that the Ultimate Alliance titles were heavily discounted on PSN, as well, and not to mention Activision's track record when it comes to keeping licensed games available, with both Deadpooland Transformers: Devastation titles having been delisted within two years of their release.
Of course, take all this with a grain of salt, but if you were interested in getting the Marvel: Ultimate Alliance games, but kept postponing the purchase, now might be the right time to splurge.
