Developer Frogwares is mostly known for creating several detective-style games based on the fictional character of Sherlock Holmes. Recently it ventured into the world of H.P. Lovecraft with The Sinking City - reviewed here. In a new post, the studio outlines its current struggle with publisher Focus Home Interactive - as its titles are disappearing from Sony, Microsoft, and Steam storefronts.

As outlined below, the issue is that with the publishing contracts expiring, the rights are not being transferred back to the owners - Frogwares. So that they can, you know, re-publish and continue to collect revenue from new sales.

Focus Home Interactive, the licensee (or “publisher”) that was in charge of commercializing these games on these platforms, refuses to transfer the title IDs to us, the creators and IP owners of those titles, even though our Publishing and Distribution Agreement has expired.

Because, according to their official statement, sent to us only last week, “Focus has put in place a policy in accordance with which they will not transfer any title – the content ID or title ID – belonging to any developer which has removed all of their games from the Focus catalog”.

A policy that is not in any of our previous or existing contracts with Focus and that has never been applied to us in the past.

Because of that policy, our games will be taken down from all storefronts.

As an independent studio, Frogwares is making this issue public to outline what it perceives as bullish behaviour from Focus Home. And also, because its entire catalog could become unavailable very soon. Which includes:

On Steam, PS4, Xbox One, PS3 and Xbox 360: Sherlock Holmes Crimes & Punishments availability ends on September 29th.

Already taken down on PS3: The Testament of Sherlock Holmes, Magrunner: Dark Pulse

Already taken down on Xbox 360: Sherlock Holmes versus Jack The Ripper, The Testament Of Sherlock Holmes, Magrunner: Dark Pulse

On Steam, The Testament of Sherlock Holmes, Sherlock Holmes Vs. Jack The Ripper and Magrunner: Dark Pulse are published by Frogwares and not by Focus Home Interactive.

For the full statement, head here. Focus Home has yet to respond.