Spec Ops: The Line Re-Listed on Steam After Including Ads for Record Labels in Every Scene

"The license holders were more than happy to let us use their music in exchange for a small mention of them in every scene of the game."

Critically-acclaimed third-person shooter Spec Ops: The Line was recently removed from Steam and other digital storefronts, with publisher 2K Games confirming this was due to expired licenses. While 2K has not specified which licenses have expired, the game was conspicuously re-listed after ads for the soundtrack’s rights holders were added to every scene in the game.

“We cannot comment on which licenses caused the product to be pulled,” said Mark Winters, public relations liaison for 2K Games. “But rest assured, the license holders were more than happy to let us use their music in exchange for a small mention of them in every scene of the game. They were very excited about how often players would be forced to think about their company, and thus considered it adequate compensation.”

The re-listed version of the game features giant logos of various record labels plastered across every scene, including one in which white phosphorus munitions sear the flesh off of a group of civilians to illustrate the horrors of war. While 2K considers these ads a positive, fans appear to be less enthusiastic.

“I can’t put my finger on why, but something about it takes away from the impact of the game,” said gamer Walker North, struggling to hit an enemy obscured by one of the logos. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m used to ads. I play Ubisoft games. Ads in the game are just a part of life. But this feels different somehow. I don’t know, it’s probably nothing. I guess I should just be thankful the game is available to buy again.”

At press time, Spec Ops: The Line was once again de-listed after weapons manufacturers demanded higher licensing fees for the game’s inclusion of white phosphorus.