Why is Medal of Honor Not on Steam?

ByJames Dorn Last Update on

Let‘s directly address the core question: Medal of Honor is not on Steam due to increasing difficulties getting the older titles to run properly on newer PC hardware and operating systems. Rather than invest resources into addressing backwards compatibility issues, Electronic Arts made the unpopular decision to delist the franchise.

Backwards Compatibility Woes Plague Aging Games

Maintaining compatibility with the latest PC gaming technology poses headaches for aging video games. As Microsoft and hardware manufacturers cease supporting older OS builds and components, titles reliant on those face functionality issues. Without developer intervention, crashes, bugs, and unplayability manifest.

This phenomenon continues claiming high-profile victims, including 2008‘s Far Cry 2 and 2006‘s The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion removed from Steam last October. Like Medal of Honor, these still live on via publisher-run storefronts. Nonetheless, the loss of Steam convenience and communitiesassociated with delisted games causes backlash.

Fan Frustration Highlights Franchise Significance

Medal of Honor‘s departure stung particularly hard for its loyal supporters. This outcry illustrates the residual affection players still harbor for the trailblazing WWII shooter series. After all, Medal of Honor established staples of the FPS genre later perfected by Call of Duty. Let‘s examine some key statistics that attest to its persisting popularity despite its age:

  • 2010 Medal of Honor reboot hit #1 UK retail sales chart
  • Lifetime sales of Medal of Honor games exceed 30 million copies
  • SteamCharts indicates peak 674 concurrent multiplayer players for Medal of Honor: Allied Assault as recently as June 2022
  • r/MedalofHonor subreddit, established in 2010, retains over 20,000 members discussing the franchise

Clearly interest endures in the brand nearly 20 years since its pioneering first installment. Given these indicators of an actively-engaged audience on old titles, EA would achieve substantial returns on remaster investment.

Preservation Dependence on Profits Disheartening

Must functioning as intended on contemporary hardware be prerequisite to merit preservation? This mindset enables the loss of pivotal artifacts like early Medal of Honor. Just as cinema classics remain culturally precious despite not leveraging 4K Dolby Atmos tech, dated graphics and control schemes need not diminish video games‘ candidacy for enduring availability.

Medal of Honor‘s Place in History

As the original trailblazer of cinematic, immersive approaches to portraying wartime valor in video games, Medal of Honor‘s DNA lives on through modern military shooters. When 2002‘s Medal of Honor: Frontline stunned gamers with storming Omaha Beach, competing publishers took notice. Just two years later, this formula was perfected by Call of Duty.

"…without Medal of Honor, there‘s no Call of Duty" remarked Vince Zampella, co-founder of Call of Duty developer Infinity Ward.

Delisting Reopens Wounds of Killswitch Debacle

Many fans direct anger over Medal of Honor‘s removal from Steam at EA, recalling their shutdown of revival studio Danger Close Games in 2013. The promising Medal of Honor: Warfighter, envisioned as direct competition to Call of Duty, severely underperformed commercially. This prompted EA to pull the plug on the entire reboot project.

Critics accused EA of failing to market Warfighter properly due to overconfidence in Battlefield as their competitive FPS focus. Overall reception fell short mostly due to unpolished mechanics and missing features gamers expected. With more publisher support addressing these execution shortcomings, Warfighter may have fulfilled its potential to resurrect the acclaimed series. Its early death instead leaves us bereft of Medal of Honor titles supported on Steam in 2024.

Signs of Hope Going Forward

While EA offers little public indication of their plans, snippets suggest Medal of Honor may yet live on:

  • EA originals vice president stated in 2019 interview: “we’re all about trying to revive our IP”
  • Job postings in 2020 hinted at new VR Medal of Honor game under development
  • Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond released on PC VR headsets in 2020 by different studio

So there remains possibility of EA announcing a comeback for Medal of Honor on Steam. However to avoid past mistakes, they must commit proper investment to ensure technical polish and modernization worthy of Medal of Honor‘s towering legacy. The industry owes today‘s landmark achievements in immersive, cinematic FPS atmosphere to bold earlier innovators like Medal of Honor. This lineage warrants commemoration through ongoing access and preservation.

James K. Dorn, a passionate gamer deeply immersed in the world of video gaming. My journey in gaming is not just about playing; it's about exploring every facet of the games I love. I am particularly fascinated by the intricate worlds of role-playing games like "The Witcher" series and "Elder Scrolls: Skyrim," where every decision shapes the story.

As a strategy game enthusiast, I spend hours devising tactics in games like "Civilization VI" and "StarCraft II," always eager to share my strategies with fellow gamers. I'm also an ardent follower of the ever-evolving landscape of indie games, finding gems like "Hollow Knight" and "Celeste" that offer unique, compelling experiences.

My content isn't just reviews; it's about deep dives into game mechanics, storytelling, and the art of game design. I love dissecting the narratives of games like "The Last of Us" and discussing the innovative gameplay of titles like "Death Stranding."

Being at the forefront of gaming news, I eagerly anticipate and share insights on upcoming releases like the next big open-world adventure or the latest in the "Final Fantasy" series. My goal is to build a community where we not only play games but also appreciate the artistry and effort behind them. Join me in this gaming journey, where every session is an adventure, and every game is a story waiting to be told.

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