
WarnerBros.Discovery'ssuddenremovalofmultipleCartoonNetworkandAdultSwimgameshassparkedsignificantplayerbacklash.Withoutexplanation,severaltitleshavebeendelistedfromdigitalstorefrontslikeSteamandtheNintendoeShop.Thisactionaffectspopularandcriticallyacclaimedgames,leavingfansunabletolegallypurchasethem.
Atleastsixgameshavebeenremoved,includingAdventureTime:FinnandJake'sEpicQuest,AdventureTime:MagicMan'sHeadGames,OKK.O.!Let'sPlayHeroes,StevenUniverse:SavetheLight,StevenUniverse:UnleashtheLight,andSamuraiJack:BattleThroughTime.Eachgame'sstorefrontlistingsimplystatestheremovaleffectiveDecember23rd,2024,withnofurtherexplanationfromCartoonNetworkGamesorAdultSwimGames.
Thisdelistingfollowsapatternofcost-cuttingmeasuresbyWarnerBros.Discovery,includingshelvingfilmsandremovingcontentfromstreamingservices.AsimilarincidentinMarch2024sawthedelistingofseveralAdultSwimgames,thoughsomewerelaterreinstatedduetopublicoutcry.Thelackofcommunicationsurroundingthislatestremovalisparticularlyfrustratingforfans,especiallyregardingSamuraiJack:BattleThroughTime,whoseremovaleffectivelycutsoffaccesstothecanonicalconclusionoftheshow'sfifthseason.
Theoldesttitleremoved,AdventureTime:FinnandJake'sEpicQuest,debutedinApril2014.Otheraffectedgameswerereleasedin2018(StevenUniverse:SavetheLight,OKK.O.!Let'sPlayHeroes)and2021(StevenUniverse:UnleashtheLight).Interestingly,someCartoonNetworktitlesremainavailable,suchasCartoonNetworkJourneysVRandMonstersAteMyBirthdayCake,alongwiththesoundtrackforOKK.O.!Let'sPlayHeroes.
ThelackoftransparencyfromWarnerBros.Discovery,CartoonNetworkGames,andAdultSwimGamesregardingthereasonsforthesedelistingscontinuestofuelfanangeranddisappointment.