Sega will remove several of its classic games from major digital stores next month.

Sega has announced that it will be removing a number of its classic games from modern platforms. The company has shared a FAQ document on its website, specifying the titles of Sega Classics that will no longer be available on each platform next month. This collection includes some of the company's most treasured classics, such as Jet Set Radio, Crazy Taxi, Golden Axe, and Altered Beast.

More than 60 Sega Classics games will be removed from Steam, Xbox, Switch, and PlayStation on December 7 at 2:59 PM ET. In addition to the aforementioned titles, others such as Virtua Fighter 2, Streets of Rage, the Golden Axe trilogy, Ecco the Dolphin, and the iconic Toejam and Earl will also be taken down.

The Sega Genesis Classics bundle will also become unavailable on Switch and PlayStation on the same date. However, the FAQ document indicates that some individual classic titles will remain accessible for those with a Switch Online membership. Those who already own any of the games being removed, or who decide to purchase them before the deadline, will still be able to play them in their library, though no bug fixes or software updates are expected in the future.

Sega has not explained the reason behind the removal of these games, which has generated some confusion. This is particularly curious considering the company is working on reviving titles such as Crazy Taxi (as a AAA multiplayer game), Jet Set Radio, Shinobi, Golden Axe, and Streets of Rage. Keeping these classics available could have been an effective marketing strategy, both to evoke nostalgia in older players and to introduce these franchises to the new generation.