Valve behind Crysis 2 exit from Steam
Restrictive business terms with developer Crytek at root of problem, says EA
Publisher EA has claimed that it is Steam developer Valve who is responsible for removing Crysis 2 from the Steam download service, contrary to earlier assumptions.
"It's unfortunate that Steam has removed Crysis 2 from their service. This was not an EA decision or the result of any action by EA," reads a statement made to GamesIndustry.biz.
"Steam has imposed a set of business terms for developers hoping to sell content on that service - many of which are not imposed by other online game services. Unfortunately, Crytek has an agreement with another download service which violates the new rules from Steam and resulted in its expulsion of Crysis 2 from Steam."
Although initially available as normal from Steam, first person shooter Crysis 2 was removed from the service yesterday. Although it is still available from other digital download services such as Direct2Drive and Impulse, it was assumed by many that EA was preparing to make it and other recent and upcoming titles Origin exclusives.
EA has confirmed that Crysis 2 is still playable for people that have already purchased the game from Steam.
Although forthcoming massively multiplayer online game Star Wars: The Old Republic is intended to be an Origin exclusive, with other prominent titles expected to follow suit in time, for now it appears as if the Crysis 2 situation is an anomaly.