River City Ransom Underground, the Kickstarter-funded sequel to the classic NES beat ’em up, is being permanently removed from Steam after its licensing agreement expired. Developer Conatus Creative announced the delisting on December 30, 2025, giving fans barely any warning before this cult classic disappears from digital storefronts. The game is currently on sale for just $3, down from its regular $19.99 price, representing one final opportunity to own a piece of beat ’em up history.
What’s Happening
The Steam community hub update from Conatus Creative was brief and to the point: “Due to the expiration of a licensing agreement, this game will be removed from sale on Steam. The delisting process is currently underway.” No specific timeline was provided for when the game would fully disappear, but the store page has already been gutted. Screenshots, trailers, and header images have been scrubbed from the listing, leaving behind a digital ghost town that hints at the game’s imminent removal.
The good news for anyone who already owns the game is that nothing changes for existing owners. If you purchased River City Ransom Underground at any point in the past, it remains in your Steam library permanently. You can continue downloading and playing it as usual, even after it’s removed from sale. This follows standard Steam policy for delisted games, similar to how owners of the original GTA San Andreas or Duke Nukem 3D still have access despite those titles being replaced or removed from the store.
The Licensing Situation
The licensing issue stems from River City Ransom Underground’s unusual origins. Arc System Works owns the rights to the entire River City series, also known as Kunio-kun in Japan, after acquiring the Technos Japan portfolio back in 2015. This portfolio included classic franchises like Double Dragon, River City Ransom, and Super Dodge Ball. When Canadian indie studio Conatus Creative wanted to create an official sequel to the beloved 1989 NES game, they had to secure a licensing agreement with Arc System Works.
That agreement, signed over a decade ago when the Kickstarter campaign launched in 2013, has now expired. Based on the Steam EULA for the game, it specifically states: “You acknowledge that the Game Software is a production of Conatus, under a license from Arc System Works.” With that license expired and apparently not renewed, the game must be removed from sale. It’s worth noting the game also appears on GOG and Humble Bundle at full price, and those versions will likely face the same delisting fate once their respective platform agreements expire.
The Game’s History
River City Ransom Underground has had a rocky journey since its conception. Conatus Creative, originally known as Combit Studios, launched their Kickstarter campaign in September 2013 seeking $180,000 Canadian dollars to fund development. The pitch was simple but ambitious: create a love letter to River City Ransom with modern sensibilities, expanding the world with more stores, items, characters, and bringing the cast into the contemporary era while maintaining that classic 2D beat ’em up feel.
The campaign successfully funded, and development began with an original target release of August 2014. Like many Kickstarter projects, that timeline proved optimistic. The game didn’t actually launch until February 2017, nearly three years behind schedule. When it finally arrived on Steam, it received a “mostly positive” rating from players who appreciated the faithful recreation of the original’s gameplay loop while expanding on every aspect.
What Made Underground Special
River City Ransom Underground featured ten playable characters, each with their own unique fighting styles and move sets. The story picks up years after the original, with members of the River City High gang known as The Flock being blamed for kidnapping Angel. Players control Bruno, Glen, Paul, and Provie as they fight to prove their innocence, eventually recruiting other classic characters like Alex and Ryan from the original game.
The game embraced the RPG elements that made the NES original stand out among other beat ’em ups. You could visit shops to buy food that permanently increased your stats, learn new techniques, and customize your character’s abilities. Co-op multiplayer supported up to four players online, and arena combat death matches provided competitive alternatives to the story mode. This combination of nostalgic gameplay with expanded features earned it a dedicated cult following, even if it never achieved mainstream success.
Previous Delisting Drama
This isn’t actually the first time River City Ransom Underground disappeared from Steam. Back in July 2017, the game was temporarily removed following a false DMCA copyright claim. A composer named Alex Mauer, who had a documented history of filing dubious copyright claims against games they’d worked on, targeted the game. Steam’s DMCA safe harbor protections require platforms to act quickly on copyright claims to avoid liability, so the game was pulled within 48 hours.
That situation resolved after Conatus Creative provided counter-documentation proving the claim was baseless, and the game returned to Steam. This time, however, the delisting is permanent and legitimate. The licensing agreement genuinely expired, and without renewal, the game legally cannot remain on sale. It’s unclear why the agreement wasn’t renewed, whether Arc System Works declined to extend it, if Conatus Creative couldn’t afford renewal terms, or if both parties simply moved on from the project.
Current Sales Spike
The delisting announcement created a small but noticeable spike in player activity. According to SteamDB, River City Ransom Underground had 54 concurrent players on December 30, 2025, compared to just 14 the previous month. That’s the highest player count the game has seen in over five years. Gamers are rushing back to experience the cult classic one last time or finally purchase it before the opportunity vanishes forever.
The $3 sale price makes it an easy impulse purchase for anyone remotely interested in beat ’em ups or retro gaming. That’s 85 percent off the standard $19.99 price tag, representing exceptional value for roughly 20 hours of content if you play through with different characters and explore all the game’s systems. For comparison, GOG and Humble Bundle still list it at full price, though those versions will likely be delisted soon as well.
Arc System Works and the River City Franchise
While Underground fades away, the River City franchise itself remains very much alive under Arc System Works’ stewardship. The company has released multiple games in the series, including the wildly successful River City Girls developed by WayForward. That game flipped the script by starring Kyoko and Misako, girlfriends of the original protagonists, who must rescue their boyfriends while tearing through the city.
River City Girls became a breakout hit, earning “Overwhelmingly Positive” reviews on Steam and spawning a sequel. The success demonstrated strong appetite for modern takes on the River City formula, which makes Underground’s delisting even more unfortunate. There’s clearly demand for these games, yet licensing complications are removing one of the few Western-developed entries from availability.
What Happens to Multiplayer
One major question surrounding the delisting concerns River City Ransom Underground’s online multiplayer functionality. The game features four-player online co-op for the story mode and competitive arena battles. While players who own the game can continue accessing it after delisting, the drastically reduced player base may make finding online matches nearly impossible.
Unlike some games that rely on official servers, Underground uses peer-to-peer networking for multiplayer, meaning it should technically function as long as players can connect to each other. However, with the game delisted and no new players able to purchase it, the already small community will only shrink over time. Anyone hoping to experience the multiplayer features should probably organize sessions sooner rather than later before the player base evaporates entirely.
FAQs
Why is River City Ransom Underground being delisted?
The game is being delisted because the licensing agreement between developer Conatus Creative and IP holder Arc System Works has expired. Without that license, the game can no longer legally be sold on Steam or other platforms.
Can I still play the game if I already own it?
Yes, if you already own River City Ransom Underground, it will remain in your Steam library permanently. You can continue downloading and playing it even after it’s delisted. The delisting only affects new purchases.
How much does the game cost right now?
River City Ransom Underground is currently on sale for $3 on Steam, down from its regular $19.99 price. This represents an 85 percent discount and is likely the final sale before permanent delisting.
When exactly will it be delisted?
No specific date was provided in the announcement. The developer said “the delisting process is currently underway” as of December 30, 2025. The sale is scheduled to run until January 5, but the game could be fully removed before then.
Is this the first time the game was removed from Steam?
No, River City Ransom Underground was temporarily removed in July 2017 due to a false DMCA copyright claim. That situation was resolved and the game returned. This delisting is permanent due to legitimate licensing expiration.
Will it be delisted from GOG and Humble Bundle too?
Most likely yes, though those platforms haven’t made official announcements yet. The licensing issue affects the game across all platforms, not just Steam. Both GOG and Humble Bundle currently still list it at full $19.99 price.
Who owns the River City franchise?
Arc System Works owns the River City series, also known as Kunio-kun in Japan. They acquired the rights from Technos Japan’s portfolio in 2015, which also included Double Dragon and Super Dodge Ball.
What is River City Ransom Underground about?
It’s an officially licensed sequel to the 1989 NES game River City Ransom. Players control members of The Flock gang who must prove their innocence after being blamed for kidnapping. The beat ’em up features RPG elements, ten playable characters, and four-player online co-op.
Are there other River City games still available?
Yes, Arc System Works has released multiple River City titles including the popular River City Girls series developed by WayForward. These games remain available because they’re developed under direct Arc System Works publishing rather than third-party licensing.
Was River City Ransom Underground successful?
The game achieved cult classic status with a “mostly positive” Steam rating but never reached mainstream success. It was funded through Kickstarter in 2013 and launched in 2017, three years behind its original schedule.
The End of an Era
River City Ransom Underground’s delisting represents more than just one game disappearing from Steam. It’s a reminder of the fragility of licensed games and the complications that arise when indie developers partner with major IP holders. What started as a passionate Kickstarter project to honor a beloved classic is ending quietly, removed from sale because a contract reached its natural conclusion.
For the small but dedicated community that supported Underground through its Kickstarter campaign, endured the three-year development delay, and championed the game after its 2017 release, this delisting stings. The game wasn’t perfect, but it represented something special: a genuine attempt to recapture the magic of an NES classic while expanding it for modern audiences. That it succeeded enough to earn mostly positive reviews and a cult following makes its removal from availability all the more unfortunate.
If you have any interest in beat ’em ups, retro gaming, or preserving gaming history, the $3 asking price represents a no-brainer purchase. Once it’s gone, the only way to play River City Ransom Underground will be through gray market key resellers or less legal means. For three dollars, you’re not just buying a game. You’re preserving a piece of gaming history that won’t be available anywhere else once the delisting completes. The clock is ticking, and River City Ransom Underground’s time on digital storefronts is almost up.