Summary
- FromSoftware's 2006 game Enchanted Arms has been unexpectedly delisted from the Xbox Store, leaving players without an explanation or a potential return date.
- Before gaining fame with the Soulslike genre, FromSoftware's games were niche and often received mixed reviews, including Enchanted Arms.
- The delisting of Enchanted Arms adds to the problem of older games not being readily available on modern hardware, and it is unlikely that the game will make a comeback soon due to the studio's current projects.
2006 FromSoftware game Enchanted Arms has suddenly found itself delisted from the Xbox Store with no explanation and no potential return date announced. While FromSoftware may be best known for the Dark Souls franchise that started in 2011, the studio has actually been making games since 1994's King's Field on the original PlayStation.
FromSoftware followed up King's Field with some sequels, mech combat game franchise Armored Core, and a variety of other original IP made in collaboration with various publishing partners. In 2006, FromSoftware and Ubisoft teamed up to release a turn-based RPG for the Xbox 360 called Enchanted Arms. Those interested in checking out this pre-Soulslike FromSoftware game had been able to do so rather easily thanks to its availability on the Xbox Store and the fact that it was backward compatible, but now it's been delisted.
Without warning, Enchanted Arms has been delisted from the Xbox Store, meaning gamers will need a hard copy now if they hope to play it on modern Xbox consoles. No reason has been given as to why Enchanted Arms was delisted, and it's unclear if the game will return. Delisted games have returned in the past, but there's no guarantee that Enchanted Arms will be one that makes a comeback.
While FromSoftware has earned a great deal of acclaim in recent years, winning multiple Game of the Year awards in the process, the studio wasn't always as well-regarded as it is now. Before the Soulslike genre took off, FromSoftware's games were generally considered niche and most were released to mixed reviews from critics. Enchanted Arms is one such game. While some publications gave it high marks, many others gave it middling reviews and didn't find it to be anything special.
Even so, any game getting delisted is disappointing, especially when it happens to a game from a developer as respected as FromSoftware. The vast majority of classic games are not readily available on modern hardware, and games being delisted will only contribute to that problem.
Perhaps Enchanted Arms will get a remaster one that day returns it to modern gaming consoles, but fans shouldn't hold their breath. FromSoftware is plenty busy right now with the Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree DLC and the upcoming Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon, which is releasing in just one month's time. It's highly unlikely that it would return to Enchanted Arms any time soon, if ever.
Enchanted Arms is available for PS3 and Xbox 360.