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Pay for Game, Lose Access: Cloud Gaming Warning
10 Aug
Summary
- Nintendo Switch cloud game Aliens: Fireteam Elite is now unplayable.
- Players paid up to $60 for the game but received no refunds.
- The game was playable until August 5, 2026, as announced in March.
The Nintendo Switch cloud version of Aliens: Fireteam Elite is no longer playable, leaving players who purchased it with inaccessible content. Launched on April 26, 2023, this cloud-based iteration required a constant internet connection for streaming. Players could have spent up to $59.99 for the Ultimate Edition.
Developer Cold Iron Studios informed players in March that the game's accessibility would cease on August 5, 2026. No refunds have been issued to affected customers, causing significant backlash within the gaming community. This event has amplified concerns about the reliability of cloud gaming and the concept of digital ownership.
A sequel, Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2, is slated for release on August 25, 2024, for PC and current-generation consoles. Notably, this sequel will not be a cloud version on its anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 release, offering a more permanent form of access.
