Earlier this week, Grand Theft Auto fans woke up to an unwelcome surprise when they discovered that vintage classic Grand Theft Auto 2 had mysteriously disappeared from Steam after being available on the platform since 2008.
The game's store page now simply redirects visitors to the Steam homepage. No announcement, no warning, no explanation. Just gone. While similar cases have happened in the history of_GTA_before, usually tied to music licenses, things are a bit more interesting this time around.
What makes this disappearance particularly intriguing is the timing. The delisting comes amid a broader crackdown on adult-themed content across digital gaming platforms, sparked by pressure from payment processors who are enforcing stricter guidelines, who in turn were pressured by activist groups with questionable backgrounds.
For those not in the know, these changes were initially prompted by the non-profit organization Collective Shout, as part of their campaign against adult content in video games, which, as evidenced by the recent greenlighting on certain territories by_Grand Theft Auto V_, is very much on brand for the franchise.
What started as a movement targeting obscure adult-focused games appears to be expanding its reach to mainstream titles that have been part of gaming culture for decades. This isn't the first classic_GTA_game to vanish from digital storefronts. The original_GTA_was delisted from Steam early last year._GTA 2_is following a similar path.
The good news? Rockstar Games has you covered. The first two games in the series has long been available to download online for free. If you're interested, simply click here.
With Grand Theft Auto 6 scheduled to release next year as one of the most anticipated games in history, this sudden removal of classic titles raises uncomfortable questions. If payment processors and advocacy groups can pressure platforms into removing games that have been available for over a decade, what does that mean for the franchise going forward?
Of course, it would also be premature to assume this is definitely the case. Titles like Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition, Grand Theft Auto III, Grand Theft Auto Vice City, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Grand Theft Auto IV, Grand Theft Auto V Legacy, and Grand Theft Auto V Enhanced are all still on the platform.
Besides, GTA was already delisted. Valve could simply just be cleaning house on Steam. Either that, or it's because the games feature game breaking bugs on newer operating systems and Rockstar has long ceased support.
With that said, Rockstar's signature radio silence could mean that we won't know the reason behind this unless recent and future releases are affected.
GTA 6 is currently scheduled for release on May 26, 2026 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S/X.
