John Wick Hex, the top-down tactical action game developed by Bithell Games, and the only official John Wick game will be removed from all digital storefronts on July 17. The announcement came with little fanfare and only a short official statement, however industry experts all seem to be pointing to the same thing. That the games licensing is expiring.
Originally released in 2019, John Wick Hex served as a prequel to the film series, offering a smart, if a little clunky, take on action choreography through strategic, timeline-based movement. Unlike typical movie tie-ins, Bithell Games broke the mold and steered away from what would have been an easy FPS sell. The game was praised for doing something different, merging the intensity of John Wick’s gunplay with thoughtful, almost puzzle-like tactics. John Wick Hex wasn’t perfect, but it carved out a path that many enjoyed.
Now, five years later, it’s on its sunset drive before the end. The good news is that players who already own the game will retain access, but new purchases will be impossible after July 17. And unlike a sequel delay or server shutdown, there’s a good chance this is permanent.
John Wick Hex will remain accessible to existing owners but will be removed from sale on all platforms after July 17. While the expiration of the license has not been given as the official reason, the statement given by Big Fan Games is brief one, the timing aligns with what has historically followed licensing expirations. Other titles, including Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game, Alan Wake, and Marvel Ultimate Alliance, have similarly disappeared from digital storefronts under comparable circumstances. Some, like Scott Pilgrim, eventually returned. Many, however, become nothing more than a blip on a timeline
Advocacy campaigns like “Stop Killing Games” have emerged in response to the all to common practice, calling for better preservation of titles and more transparency when games are taken down. John Wick Hex had its small, dedicated fanbase, and they will remain. But there will be no new audience. A lot of creativity and hard-work are put into licensed titles and for those individuals the art will remain.