Alpha Protocol pulled from Steam due to expiry of music rights Eurogamer.net If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy. Alpha Protocol pulled from Steam due to expiry of music rights UPDATE: Sega says it still owns the IP. News by Wesley Yin-Poole Deputy Editorial Director Updated on 20 Jun 2019 73 comments UPDATE 20th June 2019: Sega has been in touch to say it still owns the Alpha Protocol IP, and to clarify the game was pulled from Steam due to the expiry of music rights. Last night, Sega issued a statement saying Alpha Protocol was removed on Steam "following the expiry of Sega's publishing rights". This was incorrect. Sega didn't expand on its statement about the expiry of music rights, but it probably has something to do with scenes like the boss fight in the video below, which includes Turn Up The Radio by Autograph. Given Alpha Protocol is nine-years-old, re-licensing music for the game probably didn't make much sense to Sega. The future of Alpha Protocol, then, remains in Sega's hands. ORIGINAL STORY 19th June 2019: Alpha Protocol has been pulled from Steam after Sega's publishing rights expired. The Steam page for Obsidian's much-loved spy role-playing game includes the following note: "Notice: At the request of the publisher, Alpha Protocol is no longer available for sale on Steam." A Sega spokesperson told Eurogamer the removal had to do with the expiry of Sega's publishing rights. "Following the expiry of Sega's publishing rights for Alpha Protocol, the title has been removed from Steam and is no longer on sale." It's worth noting anyone who bought and downloaded Alpha Protocol will still be able to play the game, and anyone who's bought it but not downloaded it, or since deleted it, will still be able to download it at any time. So, for owners of Alpha Protocol, nothing changes. With Sega's publishing deal expired, it seems Alpha Protocol is now fully in the hands of Obsidian, which is now owned by Microsoft and no doubt working on Project Scarlett titles. Perhaps the game will pop up on the Microsoft Store in due course, and, hopefully, return to Steam. If you're wondering what all the fuss is about, check out Eurogamer's Alpha Protocol retrospective. Bertie wrote a super cool making of Alpha Protocol piece that's well worth a read, too. Become a Eurogamer subscriber and get your first month for £1 Get your first month for £1 (normally £3.99) when you buy a Standard Eurogamer subscription. Enjoy ad-free browsing, merch discounts, our monthly letter from the editor, and show your support with a supporter-exclusive comment flair! Support us View supporter archive More News Splatoon 3 Amiibos will be out next month Ink-coming! 3 Fans think Phil Spencer's shelf is teasing the Xbox Game Pass streaming box UPDATE: Xbox confirms old Keystone prototype. 61 Modder dives into Demon's Souls files following PS5 jailbreak, discovers fabled Ring of the Chieftain Who knows what's nexus? 5 Google announces cloud gaming Chromebooks less than a fortnight after Stadia shutdown GeForce Now preinstalled. 11 Latest Articles Digital Foundry Sennheiser's legendary HD 599 open-back headphones are just £70 at Amazon in the Prime Early Access Sale Comfortable with neutral sound and a wide sound stage. Preview Football Manager's new Console edition is the best you'll get without a PC Getting Touch-right. 1 Splatoon 3 Amiibos will be out next month Ink-coming! 3 Fans think Phil Spencer's shelf is teasing the Xbox Game Pass streaming box UPDATE: Xbox confirms old Keystone prototype. 61 Supporters Only Premium only Off Topic: Take a minute to appreciate Cookin' with Coolio's incredible scallops recipe. What a great book. Premium only Off Topic: Reading City of Glass in comic form "Where exactly am I going?" Premium only Off Topic: Il Buco is a transporting film about a really big hole Underlands. Off-Topic Netflix handled Sandman brilliantly It was Dreamy. 9 Buy things with globes on them And other lovely Eurogamer merch in our official store! Explore our store