In late November Nintendo posted a notification on the 3DS eShop to advise that the Game Boy Virtual Console version of Tetris and the retail game of the same name would be withdrawn at the end of 2014. No reason was given, but we'd bet it's down to licensing rights, as this coincidentally happened shortly after Ubisoft title Tetris Ultimate arrived on the portable.
Unfortunately this seems to have hit North America at the same time, but without the one month notice given in Europe. So that's the Game Boy original and 2011 game Tetris Axis - as it's known in the region - that have disappeared from the eShop. Those that already own the games will be able to re-download them - if required - as normal in the future, but they're no longer available for purchase.
It seems particularly unfair that these games were also removed in North America without the courtesy of a warning; it's also a pity that the title that did so much to establish the Game Boy as a global best-seller is no longer part of the Virtual Console.
Thanks to Ryan Millar for the heads up.
[source nintendoeverything.com]
Comments 87
Two questions need to be asked:
1. Why was there no warning for North America?
2. Why did the current rights holder feel this was necessary?
Glad I got it! It's all I play!
Well, good thing I bought it then
@mike_intv 1. There was a warning.
2. Because they want to sell their new game
@mike_intv
2. Ubisoft (the current rights holder) trying to eliminate the competition. Namely the logic of why would you buy Tetris Ultimate (their game) when you can buy the far superior Game Boy classic.
@WaLgzi
There was no posted warning or notice on the eShop in North America that I saw. And I bought the Gameboy version at 1 am UTC-5 on today (Jan. 1, 2015).
Also, while I understand business, there is also PR. Being responsible for the Gameboy version no longer being available is bad PR. Not exactly what Ubisoft needs (see AC Unity).
It costs 75p at car boot sales and online so if people are really determined to play this, they can just play it on an old Game Boy. GBAs can be picked up for practically nothing, so its no real loss for many people.
Tetris DS is the best anyway and I have a copy.
All I want on my 3DS is the greatest Tetris of all time and the only Tetris that matters...
Game Boy Color's: Tetris DX!
(drops internet, walks away)
That's bull...well I got the 3 tetris games that are removed (got axis retail tho)...of course the great ones get removed for the Ubisoft one...don't even work right on PS4.
Ridiculous. Most likely because of Ubisoft.
Too bad, they were on my wish list. I guess I'll ebay purchase the carts instead.
Bummer. Could've realized after that warning in europe they'd remove it. didn't realize they remove it without a warning. Gotta be more proactive next time.
Awww... I wanted to get it! (And without warning.) I refuse to buy any other version on the Eshop, unless it comes back...
I mean they released "Super Mario Bros. Deluxe" (GBC) recently, and they're still keeping the original NES version on the 3DS Eshop, as well. Some people are willing to buy 2 different versions of the game. (Darn you Ubisoft... Errr... If they are the reason...)
First TMNT, Sim City, Yoshi's Cookie, the DKC trilogy, and now this...
We're losing some of the best VC games...
Way to generate that goodwill, Ubisoft. Luckily, I already have the Game Boy (best) version. But I actually would have bought Axis had I known that it was about to be pulled.
@andyg1971 Agreed. Nintendo themed Tetris is great. Got my copy.
So much for eshop Must Haves
Blame UbiSoft all you want, but The Tetris Company is the one who had final say in it.
Glad I downloaded when I did.
I'm glad I had both eshop copies already. It is a shame the gameboy version got pulled. Tetris Axis I could take it or leave i, I got it because I couldn't find a reasonably priced copy of Tetris DS
1.could they let us know like a month ahead of time
2.and we should get donkey kong land then since that has been rated
3.i did not but tetris gb
4.i am very sad right now
Thats bad news, Tetris Ultimate is a big let down compared with Tetris Axis. Glad I have it already.
I probably would have bought this just to own it if I knew it would be discontinued in NA too. Oh well, there are better versions of Tetris out there.
I randomly picked up the old classic a week ago because I didn't want to find out today that it was going to be gone from the VC for(possibly)ever.
I downloaded the GB game a few weeks ago because of the warning. I wouldn't have done if it wasn't going to be pulled.
2.and we should get donkey kong land then since that has been rated
You got GBC Bionic Commando instead today.
When they gave the warning in Europe, I went ahead and downloaded the GB version to my 2DS. Not given Ubisoft any Tetris money, that's for sure.
Darn it. And I was thinking of purchasing the Game Boy version recently too!
At least I own the original cartridge, I guess. Although it would've been nice to have one of the best Tetris games taken around with me for convenience wherever I go (I take my 3DS everywhere I go, but not my GBA SP)...
Doesn't bother me I have Tetris DS
I bought the GB version shortly after it was announced that these two titles were coming down in EU
And to think Nintendo let Rayman to be a trophy is Smash Bros. (though I actually wanted him to be playable).
And we thought delaying games was a stupid decision
Glad I bought it!
@BlackSpy
This is a (not) direct quite from the company.
"se il vous plaît comprendre"
-Jerry Lewis
I bought GB Tetris the day it came out in the eShop. I do not regret it. To those of you who didn't buy it when you had the chance: Booooo...
Mwahaha. My 3DS has Tetris on it, and none of my friends can ever get it now. I have the best 3DS.
But seriously, this sucks it was taken down. I'm a bit gutted I didn't download Tetris Axis too, but I couldn't justify the asking price when I got a physical copy much much cheaper.
No interest in Ubi's new game.
...and sadly, as long as Ubisoft has console rights to Tetris games now and the others are being pulled down, does this also mean it's highly unlikely that we'll ever see Tetris DS show up in any VC form in the future? Now that is truly sad news, as Tetris DS is arguably hands-down the best Tetris version on any platform ... now seemingly never to rise again.
Glad I picked up the original. Tetris gets more remakes than you can shake a line piece at, but there's nothing quite like the original. The fact that this was done as a means to encourage people to buy the remake is unjustified, to say the least.
I downloaded Tetris Axis because it was very cheap and Tetris is always a waranty to a portable game. I didn´t download Tetris GB because I can play it in any GB in retail (I have it).
The only Tetris alive is Tetris Party in Wiiware (I hope, i need to check it).
Wait, warning ? What warning ?
I must have missed it :/
Well, nostalgia goggles aside, there are plenty of other Tetris alternatives, so its by far not as hard of a loss then say, the DKC trilogy.
Well I got these in cartridge form already so for these titles to disappeared from the eShop doesn't worry me that much. Whoever is stupid enough to removed these probably doesn't want our money anyways.
One more reason to hate Ubisoft. Luckily I bought it some years ago and it's actually my most played game (on my 3DS)
The main reason anyone really plays tetris is for marathon, so people would rather get the much cheaper axis or gameboy version.
Unrelated, but I finally got one of those cool re-arrangeable tetris lights, they are really cool!
I was literally just about to buy it... I had the money on my account and everything...
Thanks for the warning, Nintendo!
For those in NA that are upset, don't be mad at the company as a whole, be mad at NoA. NoE and Nintendo Japan gave proper notice.
@WaLzgi There was none for North America, which this news is all about. Heck, it already states in the title that there was no warning.
@DBPirate Is that an Australian Terrier in your profile picture? If not what breed is it?
Ugh, talk about a game over.
I really dont think ubisoft would have asked for it to be taken down. If your license for something expires, you're not allowed to sell it. Marvel vs Capcom and After Burner Climax both had to get taken down in the last week for the same reason.
@Peach64 The problem is if those titles are digital only titles and they disappeared from the eShop then they are gone forever. If they had retail physical copy and they got taken down, we can still at least find a used copy of it elsewhere. For Tetris games, it's not a big deal, for games like Shovel Knight and Shantae: Risky's Revenge or the Pirate's Curse (which are only available digitally), it would had been a major blow to the consumers.
Since the start of the Virtual Console services, havewwe had a game get taken off and then come back?
Dammit Ubisoft, you just ruined the memories of many people's childhood.
A bit to much of a coincidence with Ubisoft's release to conclude it's anything other than Ubisoft arranging this removal. It's a shame because their 'Ultimate' version is actually quite good offering a fresh multiplayer spin to the gam and the price is very fair. Kind of overshadowed now due to this removal, it's a very ugly method to combat competition this way.
if you don't have Tetris Axis, most Gamestops have the complete versions for $6.99 used. I'd pick one up before they too go extinct.
@Tsuchinoko Yes, the DKC trilogy.
The new Tetris game must suck. You can't have cheaper competition from the green screen gameboy version!
Ubisoft sucks as usual if it is up to them being the license holders.
This kind of licensing issues are stupid anyway, the game was done over 20 years ago, why can it just be left alone and be sold, who cares seriously?
Glad I downloaded this the other day. Watching what was going on in other markets made me grab it before it disappeared.
It's a good thing I already owned both for a few years now.
I feel terrible for having missed the post about it being pulled from the Eshop in Europe.. Was thinking about buying it about a week ago, if only I had done so.
Not like I don't have enough games already on the 3DS, but Tetris was my first Gameboy game together with Super Mario Land 2. Ugh, really feel like a fool for not having bought it now.
I was considering getting Axis or Ultimate. Now the decision is a little easier.
That stinks. I never got around to getting either, but both were on my list.
I bought the gameboy version when Europe announced it would be removed. Now I can sell my rare 3DS Tetris Edition on Ebay for $1000.
I want Puyo Puyo Tetris that is all. (Think the Sega Ages Tetris games in multiplayer are better than DS).
Ubisoft ruins everything.
well i still have my gameboy cart
@Farpun no, it's a Yorkshire terrier. Thanks for noticing it, though!
The NES version was the best. Didn't care for anything after that.
This is just like Ubisoft: so uncaring to the audience.
@ZenTurtle "75p at a car boot sale" is the most english thing I've read all day.
I got both games 2 days before it went down.
Glad I downloaded the Game Boy version of Tetris when it was released.
Glad I still have my original NES and GB versions of Tetris, which I prefer, to play on the Retron instead of having to worry about the eShop.
...and I didn't buy them :sad:
Many fond memories playing Tetris on the original Game Boy. When I heard that the eShop version was possibly going to be pulled from the eShop, I immediately downloaded the GB version. Glad I did, after reading this.
I like the original GB one in multiplayer but I only get to play it when I come across someone with two gameboys and a link cable.
The Game Boy version is so nostalgic for me. But i completely forgot it didn't have a "hold" button, And that was so jarring because I've grown very accustomed to it. Haha
Never take my original cartridge of the game away!
They never give NA a warning before they remove something. I don't know why, as they'd surely get lots of sales at the last minute. Maybe they'd rather make everyone paranoid that any given game might disappear at any given moment so people won't just wait around for games to go on sale.
Ubisoft is a plague on the industry.
Well... good thing I got Game Boy Tetris in my Virtual Console collection.
time to hunt down tetris axis at retail... got the Gb gamer a long time ago.
@Tsuchinoko Super Mario: Lost Levels Wii VC was available for two weeks in PAL territories, got taken down, then came back years later. DKC was pulled from Wii VC in PAL territories, but came back on Wii-U. DK:Complete Edition has so far shown up sparadically as a free promotion. So far it's been unavailable for purchase in the US, although I've got an NES repro that I enjoy much.
Also this type of thing has happened before, like when all the classic Konami Turtles ports / remakes got simultaneously pulled from Wii/PSN/XBLA without warning...
BTW, Tetris DS (2005) is the best modern version of Tetris IMO. Tons of retro goodness in that one!
Are they still available in Japan?
For those going on about how this is all Ubisofts fault and that they are the ones that removed the games, Ubisoft HAS NO POWER over the other games. they do not own the ip, they do not own any of the publishing or anything. So these games being removed was not due to Ubisoft.
SO glad I bought Tetris GB about a year ago. It's still the best version in my opinion.
@ZenTurtle Sure, there's other options to play it, there pretty much always is, but I don't think that's really the point imho.
Tetris DX is better, but minus the music. And that really means something! I just don't wanna be listening to the DX themes. So my pick will ultimately be the black & white GB version. Best one!
The worst part of this. The part that ANYONE BUYING DIGITAL DOWNLOADS ON A NINTENDO BRANDED SYSTEM NEEDS TO KNOW..... Is that if you bought this and anything happens to your 3DS, or even just Tetris gets deleted by accident then you will NEVER BE ABLE TO GET IT BACK!
Nintendo's archaic digital ecosystem is beyond terrible. They, at the very least, should always allow you to re-download all purchases that you have made regardless of copyright issues on their end. There are several games on PSN which are no longer available for sale to the public, The Simpson's Arcade for example, but since I purchased it years ago I can still jump on PSN and re-download it as much as I'd like.
Nintendo has always been a bit late to the online network party, but now it's costing people money when they buy into digital only downloads. Unacceptable.
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