Fitness Boxing 2 To Be Removed From The eShop This November

I just can't wait for the all-digital future where games can be removed by companies just because they feel like it.

I have 1 2 and 3. They mock me for being fat.

No reason has been given for the removal, but fans speculate that it's due to the licenses for some in-game music running out.

Yeah, it's almost always music licensing. They really need to sit down and update whatever archaic laws they're still abiding by with regards to licensing, it repeatedly sucks the fun out of gaming.

One reason why I never like digital distribution. Even if they manage to put the game back on the eShop, it won't be the same game, the license music or contents are probably gone.

I can’t see why this is worse for digital than physical? No (new) physical copies will be sold. Similar to digital. If you own the game you can still re download and play it.

Only the standard digital limitation: no second hand market applies here.

Probably will happen with it’s spin off titles like Fist of the North Star as well.

@TKundNobody "I can’t see why this is worse for digital than physical?"

"Only the standard digital limitation: no second hand market applies here."

You answered your own question.

@ThatOneLevel It'll be great, just like the Disney vault. Wait a decade for your favorite game to be available as part of the Limited Diamond Edition Anniversary Collection.

@topsekret yes and no. The question is why is it worse outside of the standard difference between digital/physical?

@Slideaway1983 This has got to be one of the most underrated comments I have seen on this website. 😂😂😂

Yep, definitely music licensing... hopefully anyone who still wants to get it digitally takes the opportunity to do so!

I could feel bad if this was any other game XD
I have the physical, never even took it out of the cellophane ... Had too much fun with Ring Fit, and now Fitness Circuit. But who knows ... maybe in the future I give this one a try.

@Yalloo Hmm, Fitness Circuit is on sale digitally. I may pick that up. Thanks!

I wish all of these games were just DLC packs for the base game, but the licensed music probably pushes the need to keep them as individual releases.

The same reason Guitar Hero and Rock Band died out. The music licenses were so expensive, that without the equipment they were loses.

When the licenses died, they had to make a new game and renegotiate those licenses.

There are games and movies that sit in limbo because of music licenses alone.

Imagine being one of the biggest crazes ever, selling an entire fake band assortment, barely making money back, then having to do version 2, but NOT being able to sell the equipment this time because people already have it, but still having to pay those licenses.

The DLC from eshop will be gone too??

If this was a digital key card which was sold later, could new owners of the card download the game on their account?

@TKundNobody If you already own the game either physically or digitally, then yes, the delisting doesn't affect you one way or the other.

But the point is, what about people that don't already own the game, but might be interested in picking it up in the future? Maybe they don't have a Switch yet. Maybe they don't know this game exists yet. Maybe they have it on their wishlist, but they don't keep up with video game news, so they miss the delisting announcement.

I've seen this first-hand in the shmup community. Last year, 3 classic CAVE games were delisted from the eShop. I frequently see new players asking for shmup recommendations on the Switch, and fortunately, because those CAVE games got physical releases, I can still point those people to the physical versions. Had those games not received physical releases, then it would be impossible for new players to enjoy them on Switch after the delisting.

@The_Nintendo_Pedant chances are they’d rather have you purchase the latest title instead

This is not really like a narrative driven franchise or anything, Fitness Boxing 3 has the same fundamental gameplay, but with improvements and a different soundtrack.

Music licenses have got to be the most egregious when it comes to copyright rules.

Yeah, that’s why we couldn’t have Dead or Alive 2, 3 and 4 backward compatible on Xbox One and Series for so many years, until Tecmo / Team Ninja renewed their contract with Aerosmith (or whichever label). All because of one Aerosmith song in the intro and the main ending of DOA4 (iirc).

@riChchestM Nintendo is just delisting boxing 2 from eshop store front, it will still be available for redownload it or download the updates if you own it physically or digitally.

Hardly a surprise. The earlier Just Dance games have been gradually delisted over the years without attracting headlines.

@Andee That would require music industry to change and they make the gaming industry look like choirboys.

Support physical media folks.

@riChchestM delisting doesn’t entail complete erasure.

It simply means the game is no longer available for purchase digitally. But the game itself will remain on Nintendos servers for as long as the service lasts.

@B_Lindz thanks! Thought id get it in first...

And I also realised after posting that I also have fist of the north star fitness boxing... all 4 just staring at me... silently judging, along with my ring fit 🤣🤣🤣