A Melancholy Farewell: Cadence of Hyrule Vanishes from the Nintendo Switch eShop

A somber note echoes through the land of Hyrule, or at least, through the digital storefront of the Nintendo Switch eShop. Fans of unique crossovers and rhythmic adventures are left with a heavy heart as Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the NecroDancer Featuring The Legend of Zelda has been quietly, yet decisively, delisted.

This means the acclaimed rhythm-action spin-off, which masterfully blended the beloved Zelda universe with the challenging gameplay of Crypt of the NecroDancer, is no longer available for new purchases.

The disappearance became apparent around September 18th, leaving many players confused before the official reason surfaced.

The culprit behind this digital vanishing act is the expiry of the publishing agreement between Nintendo and Brace Yourself Games. For those unfamiliar, Nintendo took on the role of publisher for this unique title, which saw the heroes of Hyrule, Link and Zelda, embark on a rhythmic quest to save their kingdom from the villainous Octavo.

For those who already own a digital copy of Cadence of Hyrule, there's a silver lining amidst the gloom: you can still re-download and play the game without any issues.

Your adventure with Link, Zelda, Cadence, and even the DLC characters like Impa and Shadow Link, remains intact. Furthermore, any downloadable content (DLC) for the game is still accessible for purchase by existing owners, allowing them to complete their rhythmic journey. However, the gate for new adventurers has firmly closed, making it impossible for fresh faces to discover this gem.

This delisting serves as a stark, poignant reminder of the ephemeral nature of digital-only video games and the complexities of licensing agreements.

While physical copies offer a semblance of permanence, titles like Cadence of Hyrule, which never received a standalone physical release, are entirely subject to the whims of digital storefronts and contractual obligations. It's a sad day for game preservation and a loss for future generations of Nintendo Switch owners who will now be unable to experience this critically lauded and incredibly fun fusion of two distinct gaming worlds.

If you never got around to playing it, the beat has sadly stopped for new entrants.