The 40th-anniversary celebration for the transforming robots series has passed months ago, but Autobots fans have something else to celebrate. Based on SteamDB activities via Dpzluna, delisted gems like War for Cybertron, Fall of Cybertron, and Devastation may be rolling back into Steam. Considering these fan-favorite Transformers games have been unavailable on Steam — and other digital storefronts — for years, fans are understandably hyped about the potential re-releases.
What makes this news even more exciting is the nature of the updates. Unlike most SteamDB package changes, which often list vague or minor modifications, the Steam store pages for the Transformers games are updated with brand-new screenshots. This move suggests something more significant than routine backend updates.
Not to mention that back in July 2023, a Hasbro representative expressed interest in Transformers rerelease across various platforms, including Game Pass. However, they noted that Activision had reportedly lost the source codes during its merger with Blizzard.
“When a company eats a company that eats a company things get lost, and that’s very frustrating. […] Now that the deal is moving forward with Microsoft and Xbox that they’ll go through all of the archives and every hard drive to find it all, because it’s an easy Game Pass add,” said Hasbro to Transformer World 2005.
Interestingly, the SteamDB activity doesn’t stop at Transformers. Other Activision titles, including Family Guy: Back to the Multiverse, 007 Legends, Blur, Deadpool, and Shrek: Forever After, have also shown activity. Even the beloved Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 1 and 2 made the list.
But before fans get too excited, it’s important to temper expectations. While the Transformers games show promising signs of a Steam rerelease, the outlook for other classics is less certain. The SteamDB’s changelist notes that the changes affected ‘115,527 other apps,’ so this update might not mean re-releases for all games.
Licensing issues pose significant challenges for games like Ultimate Alliance as Activision no longer holds Marvel and Spider-Man‘s game licenses. 007 Legends faces similar hurdles as IO Interactive is currently developing a new Bond game. Meanwhile, Blur would require re-licensing a fleet of real-world vehicles, which is no small feat.
For now, take this news with cautious optimism. While SteamDB updates are exciting, they don’t guarantee releases. Until an official announcement is made, Transformers enthusiasts will have to hold their breath a little longer.
