A great tactical game disappears from Xbox, PS5 and PC: you only have until July 17 to get it

It was exclusive to Epic Games, came to consoles and now it will stop being sold on all platforms.

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Another highly-valued title, especially among fans of action movies and tactical games, will be removed from all digital stores this week. If you’re interested in keeping it in your library, you’ll need to hurry, because July 17th will be the last day to buy it on Xbox, PC, or any other platform.

Although no official explanation has been provided, everything points to a common cause: the expiration of licensing rights over the intellectual property on which it is based. This is a frequent problem in video games linked to movies or famous franchises: some disappear completely, while others do so partially, as happened with certain songs in Alan Wake or GTA IV.

John Wick Hex will disappear from the Xbox Store and other stores on July 17th

The game in question is John Wick Hex, a real-time strategy game with pause that adapts the intensity of Keanu Reeves’ character to a tactical system of great precision. It was developed by Bithell Games and published by Big Fan Games, and debuted in 2019 as a temporary exclusive to the Epic Games Store. Later, it arrived on Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox.

The game opted for a cell-shading visual style and paused gameplay, moving away from the traditional frenzy of shooters. And yet, it successfully conveyed the essence of the character without copying the usual mechanics.

The curious thing is that this removal comes just after Mike Bithell, the game’s creator, praised the evolution of licensed titles. According to him, the current people in charge of these franchises grew up with video games and now seek quality products, not just “fan gifts”. However, the irony is evident: this case demonstrates that, despite everything, the weight of licenses still decides which games live… and which ones don’t.

If you don’t have it yet and you’re interested in trying it, you’re still on time: John Wick Hex will remain available until Thursday, July 17th on the Xbox Store, Steam, and other digital platforms. After that date, it will no longer be available for official purchase.