The expiration of a licensing deal with Ferrari has led Sega to remove OutRun Online Arcade from the PlayStation Network, with the Xbox Live Arcade version to be removed from the service in December 2011.
The PSN removal tracks closely with the release of System 3's release of Eutechnyx-developed Ferrari: The Race Experience on the European PSN last week, ahead of a planned November release on the Wii.
Those that have already downloaded the game will still be able to play it, though it's unclear whether existing owners will be able to re-download their purchase after the removal.
While the original 1986 arcade release of Outrun included a red car that bears a striking resemblance to a Ferarri Testarossa convertible, Sega's 2003 release of Outrun 2 was the first game in the series to include officially licensed Ferrari cars.
Outrun Online Arcade was originally released on the European PlayStation network and worldwide for Xbox Live Arcade last April with 10 different drivable Ferrari vehicles.
Even if you backed up the Game, you need to be able to backup/crack the DRM keyfile that lets you actually play said game. Digital Download is not the way to go people.
This is a good lesson to future proof digital distribution of the future. I know the DLC of Ultimate Alliance 2 will expire due to Marvel licencing too.
