author: Zuzanna Domeradzka
Hasbro Wanted Transformers Games Back, but Activision Lost Them [Update: Hasbro Apologizes]
Hasbro hopes to bring the appreciated Transformers games to digital distribution, and maybe even Game Pass, once Microsoft's acquisition of Activision is finalized. Activision just needs to find the necessary files.
Update
As it turns out, Hasbro representative was apparently mistaken about Activision "losing" the game files of War for Cybertron. The official statement sent to the Axios website reads:
"TTo clarify, comments that suggest Transformers games have been lost were made in error. We apologize to Activision and regret any confusion... They have been great partners and we look forward to working together in the future."
Lulu Cheng Meservey, director of compliance and employee relations at Activision Blizzard, also spoke on the matter. She wrote: "The headlines are wrong. We have the code, we never lost it."
Original post (July 31)
If you like comic books or movies from the Transformers franchise, then you may also be interested in games from this universe. Unfortunately, appreciated games from the series, Transformers: Devastation, Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark, Transformers: War for Cybertron and Transformers: Fall of Cybertron, are no longer available in digital distribution. However, as it turns out, their return to sale is not that impossible.
Transformers games in Game Pass?
Hasbro, which owns the rights to Transformers and which produces toys from this universe, gave an interview to Transformers World 2005 during the San Diego Comic-Con 2023 event, in which we learned that the company would like to make games about transforming robots available to the fans again, such as through Game Pass. However, the obstacle may be the publisher, Activision Blizzard.
"Unfortunately, it looks like Activision isn't sure what hard drives [with Transformers game files - ed. note] are on at their headquarters. When a company eats a company that eats yet another company, things get lost and it's very frustrating. Hopefully, now that the Microsoft thing is moving forward, they [Activision employees - ed.] will go through all the archives and hard drives to find the files, because they could easily be added to Game Pass. We want to restore these games so that fans have a chance to play them."
Hasbro representative admitted that the company has access to all the game files from Fall of Cybertron. However, in the case of obtaining data from War for Cybertron more effort is needed (due to Activision having lost them). The files were recently needed by Hasbro to release a collection of Transformers toys called "Gamer Edition."
Hopes for a comeback
It's War for Cybertron and Fall of Cybertron seem to be the most beloved Transformers fans. They express their interest in the return of the games on the Internet, including on Reddit. The titles listed at the beginning of this article were withdrawn from digital distribution in 2017.
At this point, the only option for firing up older Transformers games is to purchase them in physical form (on disc) or activation keys. Hopefully, however, they will return to digital distribution after all. Perhaps there is also a chance for them to get remasters, since Hasbro expresses a desire to please the fans.
It's also worth keeping in mind that Transformers: Reactivate was announced last year. The closed beta of this action game is expected to take place later this year.
