Summary
- Opus Magnum and Shenzhen I/O will be leaving EA Play on June 27, disappointing fans of these acclaimed engineering puzzle games.
- EA has already removed or shut down several games in 2024, suggesting a focus on keeping its library up to date.
- While Opus Magnum and Shenzhen I/O's removal may not surprise some gamers, the decision may be part of EA Play's strategy to make room for newer or more popular games.
June 27 will be a tough day for EA Play subscribers as two top puzzle games from 2016 and 2017, Opus Magnum and Shenzhen I/O, respectively, are leaving the service. Alongside rumors of a potential price hike for EA Play, this news has disappointed many gamers. These critically acclaimed games are among the best engineering- and programming-inspired puzzles, with one winning the Excellence in Design award from the Independent Games Festival and the other being a nominee for the same award.
EA shut down four games in May, a possible indication that the company is going to be tough on its titles in 2024. The delisted games were Lord of the Rings: Heroes of Middle-earth, F1 Mobile Racing, and two MLB installments. Despite this, the company has been adding more options to its premium subscription service, EA Play, to keep players engaged. Of course, this strategy involves removing unsuccessful or outdated games to make room for new ones, which is why June 27 will be a disappointing day for some EA Play subscribers.
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A new update to EA's online service shutdown list reveals that Opus Magnum and Shenzhen I/O will be removed from EA Play on June 27. Both games focus on engineering puzzles, with Opus Magnum involving the construction of laboratory machines and Shenzhen I/O requiring players to solve programming problems. This news is unfortunate, especially because EA has already shut down eight games in 2024, discontinuing seven F1 titles and the multiplayer shooter Rocket Arena.
Given EA's history, the removal of Opus Magnum and Shenzhen I/O shouldn't surprise gamers. In 2022, the company pulled both games from its storefront after announcing that Origin will no longer sell third-party titles. On the other hand, Opus Magnum and Shenzhen I/O have been on EA Play for quite some time without gaining much traction, perhaps compelling their removal from a business standpoint. Since the subscription focuses on promoting the best EA games, some people expected that these lesser-known titles might be removed, even though they were highly praised.
All EA Play Games Leaving in June
- Opus Magnum (June 27, 2024)
- Shenzhen I/O (June 27, 2024)
- FIFA 22 (June 30, 2024)
Opus Magnum and Shenzhen I/O aren't the only games leaving EA Play in June. While rumors suggest a new FIFA game developer, Electronic Arts is gradually reshaping its library of older FIFA games on EA Play by removing the franchise's 2022 installment. On the bright side, there are still some good puzzle games like Unravel and Peggle on the subscription service for players to enjoy. Subscribers can also test the first 10 hours of EA FC24 to make up for FIFA 22’s removal. It's also likely that EA will add FC24 to its premier subscription once the next installment is launched. For now, players have until June 27 to enjoy Opus Magnum, Shenzhen I/O, and FIFA 22 before they leave EA Play.
- Date Founded
- May 27, 1982
- Headquarters
- Redwood City, California, United States
- Subsidiaries
- EA Sports, Respawn Entertainment, BioWare, PopCap, EA Vancouver, Codemasters, Glu Mobile
- Services
- EA Play
- Known For
- FIFA, NHL, Medal of Honor, Battlefield, Madden NFL, Dragon Age
- CEO
- Andrew Wilson