Humble Bundle Cancels Free Steam Keys for Indiana Jones Game

Overview of the Humble Bundle Incident

Humble Bundle has retracted Indiana Jones and the Great Circle from its online platform after offering it in error at no cost.
Users who had successfully claimed the game faced its removal from their libraries, sparking frustration among many gamers.
The game’s abrupt withdrawal raises questions about digital ownership and may involve Microsoft or ZeniMax’s intervention due to a possible pricing oversight.

In a disappointing turn of events for players who recently added Indiana Jones and the Great Circle to their collections at no charge, Humble Bundle has temporarily removed the game from its marketplace. Released in early December, this title from Bethesda Softworks and MachineGames, the studio behind Wolfenstein: The New Order, introduced the iconic archaeologist to Windows and Xbox gamers. The early reception of the game has been highly positive, with many players commending its engaging puzzles and exploratory gameplay.

Recently, fans were thrilled to receive the opportunity to don Indiana’s signature fedora entirely free, courtesy of a promotional offer from Humble Bundle. The game was advertised as “free” on their site, prompting a surge of excitement among Steam users who quickly associated their accounts to claim download codes for the treasure-hunting adventure.

However, this enticing offer turned out to be a mistake, as Humble Bundle later issued a statement retracting the free download keys for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. They cited an “error in the provided pricing” as the reason for the retraction. Reports from PCGamer reveal that not only were unactivated game keys rendered invalid, but players who had already registered the game on Steam found it removed from their libraries entirely.

Deactivation of “Free”Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Copies

Run, don’t walk! Indiana Jones is free on Humble Bundle when linking your Steam account! by u/basinko in pcgaming

This situation has understandably caused distress among gamers who had started enjoying their new title only to discover its absence upon their next Steam login. An active thread on r/pcgaming reveals numerous accounts from users lamenting that Indiana Jones and the Great Circle has been temporarily delisted from the Humble Bundle site. Although there’s hope that the game will return to the platform eventually, interested players may need to seek alternatives for now.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Screenshot

Dragon's Claw in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Guides

Finding the Blackshirt Uniform in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

Indiana and Gina in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

It appears that the removal of the game stems from potential actions taken by Microsoft or ZeniMax, the latter being Bethesda’s parent company after its acquisition by Microsoft in 2021. This incident underscores the intricate nature of digital ownership; while users might feel they own a game, digital licenses can indeed be retracted, highlighting the unique challenges of the digital gaming landscape.

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