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Quick Guide: What Players Need to Know About Delisted Games and Their Purchased Digital Goods

UUnknown

2026-02-17

8 min read

Short, actionable checklist for players facing a game delisting: document purchases, export data, secure NFTs, and pursue refunds—what to do now.

Hit with a delisting notice? If a game you paid for is being removed from storefronts or announced for shutdown — like Amazon’s New World: Aeternum (delisted in 2026, servers running until Jan 31, 2027) — your first minutes and days matter. This quick, actionable checklist tells players exactly what to do now: document purchases, export inventories and data, extract value where possible, and lock down any blockchain items.

Quick action checklist — First 48 hours

Preserve access: Keep the game installed and don’t factory reset devices. Download installers/builds when the platform still allows it.
Document purchases: Collect receipts, payment statements, order IDs, emails, and screenshots of your storefront/library showing ownership.
Export or screenshot inventories: Use any built-in export tools. If none exist, take time-stamped screenshots and short video captures of inventories, account pages, and item descriptions.
Move blockchain items to self-custody (if applicable): Transfer NFTs to a hardware or self-custody wallet. Revoke unnecessary contract approvals.
Withdraw balances: Cash out any withdrawable in-game balances or link to marketplaces before limits are imposed.
Contact support & request data: Open a support ticket requesting transaction logs and an official statement on delisting/refund policy; ask for a data export if allowed under local privacy laws.
Pause recurring payments: Cancel subscriptions or auto‑topups tied to the game.
Share evidence: Post in official community channels and keep links to announcements — useful for later refunds or disputes.

Detailed how‑to: document purchases and proofs

Gather store receipts and payment records

Start with the obvious but essential items: the store receipt (Steam, Epic, console store, publisher site), your bank or card statement, and the confirmation email. Save PDFs of any order pages and use your email client’s search to pull transaction IDs and timestamps. If you paid with crypto, export the wallet transaction history and copy the relevant TX hashes.

Capture proof from inside the game

Open the inventory, wallet, and account screens and take multiple timestamped screenshots. Record short clips showing item stats and counts so you can demonstrate exact ownership later. If the game has a “redeem code” or “license” page, screenshot that too.

Use platform data export where available

Many services now offer a data download (account > privacy/export). Under GDPR-like rules (in the EU/UK and increasingly elsewhere), you can request your account data and transaction logs. Save any returned JSON/CSV and securely store copies.

Export inventories and game data — on‑chain vs centralized

If assets are on‑chain (NFTs, tokens)

Record token IDs and contract addresses: Write down token IDs, contract addresses, and marketplace URLs — and consider tagging contracts the way modern listings use identifiers (see cashtags & crypto ideas).
Save metadata & IPFS hashes: Download and archive the JSON metadata when possible. If assets use IPFS or other decentralized storage, copy the content hashes and pin them to a personal IPFS gateway or a third‑party pinning service.
Transfer to safe custody: Move assets to a hardware wallet (Ledger/Trezor) or multisig account. Use a fresh receiving address and verify transfers on a block explorer.
Revoke approvals: Use a reputable approval tool (block‑explorers or revocation services) to cancel approvals from game contracts you no longer trust.

If assets are centralized (server‑side items, currencies)

Export save files and logs when the client allows it. Save cloud‑sync copies.
Screenshot item tooltips and store pages showing the exact item names, rarity, and descriptions.
Record purchase flows: If you used real money to buy in‑game currency (e.g., “Marks of Fortune” in New World), document the purchase date, amount, and any in‑game receipts.

Protect crypto and NFT assets — step‑by‑step

Install a trusted wallet (MetaMask, WalletConnect-compatible) if you haven’t already.
Connect a hardware wallet and transfer the asset to it; confirm the transaction on a block explorer.
Check contract ownership and admin privileges—if the game publisher still controls the contract, your asset’s future functionality may depend on them.
Set up alerts (block explorer watchlists, Google Alerts for the contract address) to be notified of transfers or changes.

Monetize or withdraw value

If the asset is transferable and marketplaces remain open, list it immediately. Expect low liquidity and increased fees on last‑minute listings. For centralized currency, withdraw to your linked payment method before support limits access. Keep fees and tax consequences in mind — document every cash‑out for tax reporting.

Refunds and buyer protections

Refund rules vary by platform and jurisdiction. Here’s a practical path:

Check the platform’s stated refund policy (Steam/Epic/App Stores) and file within any stated windows.
If the publisher refuses and you believe you have a valid claim (misrepresentation, early shutdown changes), contact your card issuer for a chargeback—do this quickly; card networks have strict time limits.
In the EU/UK and several other markets, consumer protection rules have been expanded in 2025–2026 to cover certain digital goods more strongly—cite the delisting announcement, your purchase proof, and request mediation if needed.
Keep a timeline and copies of all communications—these are critical for disputes or regulatory complaints.

Legal and reporting steps

If you suspect deceptive practices (bait‑and‑switch, sudden removal after paid purchases), file complaints with consumer protection agencies, file a dispute with the payment processor, and consider organizing with other affected players. Public posts and community aggregations often pressure publishers into goodwill gestures.

Case study: New World (what happened and what to do)

Amazon announced New World would be delisted in 2026 with servers scheduled to remain online through January 31, 2027. The publisher also halted sales of a specific in‑game currency (“Marks of Fortune”) ahead of time and stated refunds for those currency purchases wouldn’t be offered. Practical lessons:

Do not assume refunds: If the publisher says no refunds for consumable currency, your best short-term option is to spend the currency on durable items that can be documented or resold (if possible).
Download installers: The announcement allowed re‑downloads up to shutdown; save installers and game files while you can.
Document everything: Preserve purchase receipts and screenshots of currency balances and item inventories for refund/challenge evidence and taxation.

Future purchases — a compact pre‑buy checklist

Before you spend on a new game or in‑game item in 2026 and beyond, run this quick checklist:

Ownership model: Is the item on‑chain (transferable) or server‑side (controlled by publisher)? Prefer transferable standards if you want resale options.
Exportability: Can items, saves, or licenses be exported? Is there an API or data export?
Refund terms & shutdown policy: Check explicit terms for delisting and server shutdowns.
Developer runway: How healthy is the studio financially? Look for funding, active development, and community size.
Market liquidity: Is there a robust secondary market? Low liquidity increases risk.
Contract transparency: For blockchain items, review contract ownership, upgradeability, metadata hosting (centralized vs IPFS), and audits.
Small initial buys: Use a trial spend approach — small purchases first so you limit exposure.
Payment method: Use cards with buyer protection or small preloaded methods, and avoid bulk irreversible purchases if unsure.

2026 trends that matter to players

Late 2025 and early 2026 saw the market respond to repeated high‑profile delistings and shutdowns. The meaningful trends players should know:

More transparency rules: Regulators and platforms pushed publishers to clarify shutdown and refund policies in purchase flows.
Hybrid ownership models: More games now use a mix of on‑chain registries for ownership proofs and centralized servers for game logic — increasing portability for some assets while keeping core gameplay server‑locked.
Market infrastructure improves: Marketplaces and wallets built better export, escrow, and cooldown features to help players extract value before delisting events.
Risk remains: Despite technical fixes, the business risk of a game being shut down remains a reality — ownership does not guarantee perpetual access to a live service.

Advanced strategies for Web3 gamers

If you’re a power user, add these to your routine:

Use multisig or hardware custody for high‑value items rather than single-signer hot wallets.
Monitor contract admin keys and upgradeability; if the contract is upgradable by the devs, factor that into your valuation.
Pin critical metadata to resilient storage (multiple IPFS pinning services, Arweave backups) to avoid metadata loss if publishers remove centralized hosting.
Insurance & hedging: Consider third‑party insurance products for high-value positions where available, but read policy limitations closely.
Community coordination: In many shutdowns, community markets and fan projects preserve value — follow official forums and third‑party projects closely.

Printable quick checklist (one‑page summary)

Save receipts & payment records (PDF or screenshot).
Screenshot inventories & account pages with timestamps.
Export data (account export, wallet TX history).
Transfer on‑chain assets to self‑custody; revoke approvals.
Withdraw balances or list transferable assets on marketplaces.
Contact support & request formal statement/data export.
Cancel subscriptions; document all communications.
Consider chargeback/refund options; file within card/processor windows.

Parting advice — what to remember

Delisting doesn’t always mean immediate loss of value, but it raises the risk that digital goods become inaccessible or worthless. Your best defense is fast documentation, self‑custody for transferable items, and conservative buying behavior. Use the first 48 hours to build a paper trail and move what you can out of centralized systems.

Call to action

Want a downloadable, printer‑friendly version of this checklist plus a short video walkthrough (wallet transfers, approval revocations, and quick metadata backups)? Click to download the free checklist and join our weekly newsletter for live alerts on delistings and NFT game‑asset best practices. Act fast — when a delisting is announced, minutes can matter.

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Senior editor and content strategist. Writing about technology, design, and the future of digital media. Follow along for deep dives into the industry's moving parts.