Update: Nightdive Studios released a statement on Steam explaining the situation:
Hey everyone,
We're sure by now you've noticed things happening with SiN, SiN Multiplayer and SiN: Emergence on Steam over the last 24 hours or so and we're going to bring you all up to speed on what's going on.
Firstly, we're having some behind the scenes updates done to the Steam AppIDs (The unique Steam identifiers) that bring them into line with newer AppIDs. These AppID were created in 2006 so they need some TLC. Unfortunately, this means that the games may, for a very short period, be unavailable to play while these changes are done. We're sorry about that. The games will be back up very soon!
Secondly, we have an update planned for the original game itself! "SiN Multiplayer" will shortly be retired, and everything will be in one AppID going forwards. This new update will include some bugfixes, working multiplayer as well as some other things!
We're doing what we can. Hang tight, and sorry about the downtime on these games.
We will continue to monitor this situation and bring more information as it becomes available.
Original story below
Recently, it has come to the attention of SiN Episodes: Emergence fans that their paid-for game has disappeared from their Steam libraries without a trace.
It started a month or so ago, when Steam user Klumb3r started a thread called 'Removed', where he asked "Why?" referring to why SiN Episodes: Emergence was delisted from Steam. Odd, but nothing too extraordinary, as games have been delisted from Steam before.
Users at the time pointed out that Nightdive Studios now has control of the franchise, pointing to how SiN Gold has Nightdive as a publisher on GOG. Perhaps they were going to re-release it in a bundle? Despite some uneasiness, all seemed to be fine, because let's face it this is a 14-year-old game where only 1 episode out of 7 was ever completed. Not exactly the most integral game to any PC gamer's library... at least until it was removed from people's Steam libraries.
14 hours ago, the same Steam thread erupted, as users flooded it protesting a change that was made. Basically, the game is now deleted from Steam users' libraries, and they no longer have access to the game. The games' listing on SteamDB states that the change was made around 16 hours ago. Hyperduel, a user on the Steam Forums, pointed out that while the title no longer plays from their Steam library, they can still play it from their SiN 1 folder since he had it previously installed.
Users have tried using clever ideas such as going straight to the Steam link, steam://install/1313, but that only offers up another error. Support tickets have been opened, but nothing has come out except a user, Velly, offering that Nightdive Studios has told them that SiN "is undergoing... some maintenance", whatever that means, as maintenance doesn't usually include removing a paid for product from their customers, presuming this user is accurate.
We have reached out to Steam and Nightdive Studios, and will update this article the moment we receive word from either company. Stay tuned.
What do you think of SiN Episodes: Emergence being removed from user's libraries? Should stores have the ability to remove products from player's libraries? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below
