As spotted online by Reddit user lurkingdanger22, the third-person military shooter game Spec Ops: The Line has been delisted from Steam. Players who go to the Steam Store will note the message, “Spec Ops: The Line is no longer available on the Steam store.” The removal comes as a surprise to both fans and even developers of the game as even the game’s director Cory Davis took to Twitter to ask Steam and publisher 2K for the reason. “Makes no sense – especially because the themes portrayed in @SpecOpsTheLine are more relevant now than ever,” said Davis, “Why has this happened @2k @Steam?” While Valve and 2K have yet to provide an answer to why the game has been delisted, its being speculated that it is as a result of licensing issues with some songs in the game’s soundtrack. It’s worth noting that the game is still available on Xbox Store and GOG.
The game’s details via GOG:
Spec Ops: The Line is a new original title from 2K Games that features provocative and gripping Third-Person modern military Shooter gameplay designed to challenge players’ morality by putting them in the middle of unspeakable situations where unimaginable choices affecting human life must be made. Features include, a gripping, storyline reminiscent of Apocalypse Now and Heart of Darkness but set in a ruined Dubai, tactical squad-based Delta Force gameplay throughout a horizontally and vertically oriented world and devastating sandstorms which can be used in combat.
It’s been 6 months since Dubai was wiped off the map by a cataclysmic sandstorm. Thousands of lives were lost, including those of American soldiers sent to evacuate the city. Today, the city lies buried under sand, the world’s most opulent ruin. Now, a mysterious radio signal is picked-up from Dubai, and a Delta Recon Team is sent to infiltrate the city. Their mission is simple: Locate survivors and radio for Evac. What they find is a city in the grip of war. To save Dubai, they’ll have to find the man at the heart of its madness—Col. John Konrad.
Gameplay
Spec Ops: The Line is an action-packed Third-Person Shooter that delivers heart pounding physically close combat through a squad-based play mechanic. Players lead a team of three characters, Captain Martin Walker, Lieutenant Adams and Sergeant Lugo. Each character has his own distinct personality and specialized skills, and the mature story they each play a role in explores the dark side of war in a realistic way, in which there are no good outcomes, only hard choices. As missions are completed more advanced weapons and equipment are made available. In addition, the desert environment of Dubai is brought into the game in a unique way with stunning visuals, and dynamic sandstorms that actively effect level designs, and which can be used to help and hinder progress. The vertical interiors of Dubai high rise buildings also provide tactical advantages and risks that can used be by players.
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Includes several titles.
Which was showcased at E3 2003.