LucasArts brings back catalog to Steam

[UPDATE] Publisher launches digital distribution effort this week with Loom, The Dig, Star Wars: Battlefront II, and more in first wave of retro releases.

One by one, the list of publishers conspicuously absent from Steam is dwindling. The latest casualty from the list is LucasArts. The publisher today announced plans to make a portion of its back catalog available to the digital distribution game store later this week.

LucasArts hopes gamers will "Dig" their old games on Steam.

Starting Wednesday, July 8, Steam users will be able to download 10 of the publisher's PC games, ranging from long-out-of-print adventure games like Loom and The Dig to more recent fare like Thrillville: Off the Rails. Naturally, LucasArts' twin titans are represented, with multiple Star Wars and Indiana Jones titles in the mix.

The full list of LucasArts back-catalog games to arrive on Steam this week follows below:

Armed and Dangerous
Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: The Graphic Adventure
Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures
Loom
Star Wars Battlefront II
Star Wars Republic Commando
Star Wars Starfighter
The Dig
Thrillville: Off the Rails

Nostalgic gamers disappointed that their favorites aren't on the list can hold out some hope for the future. LucasArts said this first volley of releases is just part of its "new mission to revitalize its deep portfolio of beloved gaming franchises."

Other parts of that mission include the recent revival of the Secret of Monkey Island franchise, which sees a new episodic adventure from Telltale Games begin this Tuesday on the PC. A special edition of the original Secret of Monkey Island--complete with an optional graphics overhaul--is set for release July 15.

[UPDATE] Via a subsequent Twitter post, Lucasarts promised that more back-catalog hits are on the way. "For those who want more games, this list is part one," read the tweet. "It's just a few guys who have to remake these for modern systems."

110 Comments

  • tester962

    Posted Aug 6, 2009 1:11 pm PT

    Sam & Max Hit The Road, Full Throttle, and Day Of the Tentacle please ASAP!!!!!!

  • snake289

    Posted Jul 10, 2009 7:41 pm PT

    Sam & Max Hit The Road please?

  • Zombie_Massacre

    Posted Jul 9, 2009 5:59 pm PT

    I know it's not a PC game but I can't be the only person hoping Herc's Adventures pops up.

  • 96windsor

    Posted Jul 9, 2009 12:57 pm PT

    2 words: Dark Forces
    3rd word: PLEASE!

  • ehsan8888

    Posted Jul 8, 2009 1:18 pm PT

    Sigh I wish they would bring Tie Fighter......

  • dag-dabreemie

    Posted Jul 8, 2009 7:42 am PT

    I'm hoping they bring back DroidWorks so that it'll work & run on more modern systems as well.

  • CaptainFallout

    Posted Jul 8, 2009 7:20 am PT

    Fullthrottle!?! I 'dig' this...( I'm so clever)

  • kca89

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 3:22 pm PT

    Loom and Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis?! I loved those games.

  • IkedaTeramusa

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 3:08 pm PT

    Ahhhh just reading this makes me wanna go back and reinstall TF, XW, Rebellion, and a host of other games I used to geek out on back in the day.

  • hvypetals

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 7:17 am PT

    wow lego indiana jones i can hardly wait. /sarcasm

    i got an idea - how about making a space combat sim like the one that everyone and their mother have been clamoring for - for years since XWA!

    heard of xbox? theres no excuse man what is going on with you guys.

  • nurse_tsunami

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 7:03 am PT

    I'd be interested if Gamespot went back and gave a quick re-review of these games when they come out to Steam. I'd like to know how they hold up over time and if they play well on modern systems.

  • Darth_Pietrus

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 5:59 am PT

    Indiana Jones and the emperors tomb!

  • Sniper

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 5:57 am PT

    Making classic games available seems straightfoward. So what took LucasArts (and other publishers and developers) so long? People say games are works of art... do novels, operas, paintings, sculptures disappear from public view a few months after one Christmas sales period? The fact that publishers ruthlessly expunge from existence back catalog titles shows that games are considered by their own patrons and sponsors to be expendable products, not art. For example, I just noticed the first Godfather game from Electronic "Arts" has vanished from both Steam and Direct2Drive. What the hell? I can buy The Godfather books and movies anywhere, any time, but the game is gone.

  • Vikingfbm

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 5:03 am PT

    I own original disc's for a lot classic's, but I'm really happy that Steam and Good Old Games are bringing these titles back. I don't have to root around Ebay for those other gems, build a retro box or resort to abandon'ware sites. Plus I'm crap at setting up Dosbox. I hope to see X-Wing, Tie Fighter, Day of the Tentacle and a few others in the future. Now if only MS would do something similar for the old Mech Warrior games.
    Well, I can dream can't I?

  • DFalcon999

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 3:40 am PT

    This and the return of Monkey Island may be signs that LucasArts may be returning their roots.

    That would be a good thing. An awesome thing. A hell of thing.

  • Sevia

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 2:13 am PT

    "One by one, the list of publishers conspicuously absent from Steam is dwindling. The latest casualty from the list is LucasArts."

    Oh no. Brendan Sinclair wants to drive to the store at $3 a gallon gas and buy a box with discs in it.

    The future is downloads, bro.

  • lamprey263

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 1:32 am PT

    oh HELL YES!!!

    Fate of Atlantis and The Dig for me, that'll take me back many many years... though Full Throttle would have been nice too, maybe even Day of the Tentacle and Sam & Max since I never got to try those

  • actsai

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 11:27 pm PT

    I hope that don't mean retail packaging is out, the service level for running Steam is costly with no possibility of recoup to say the least, many of us are against it.

  • futs22

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 11:08 pm PT

    I wanna see Manny Calavera again! Bring me Grim Fandango!

  • nurse_tsunami

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 8:55 pm PT

    Wow, I am really glad LucasArts has finally seen the light People have been begging them to do this for some time. I think it is great that old favorites will be able to re-play and for newer gamers to try for a first time. I really hope that Grim Fandango makes an upcoming release on Steam. I remember all my friends playing it and loving it, but I never got a chance

  • steveroger

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 8:32 pm PT

    Why don't the Jedi Outcast games get on Steam right now? Can you hear me begging and screaming?

  • JackfnBurton

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 7:38 pm PT

    Good idea. Be cool to see where it leads.

  • a_mop265

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 7:29 pm PT

    wow hopefully the new steam version of republic commmando will work on my new computer...
    can't seem to get it to work i've tried both the game disc and a demo for it and it both doesn't work.....
    and i got a good enough system to run it maxed out and everything so i rrly want to see it like that cause it is one of my favorite games of all time

  • iron_zealot7531

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 7:02 pm PT

    About freaking time! XD

    Thank you Lucasarts, thank you for finally wising up and deciding to make money off your old titles. Rather than holding those titles hostage as you've been doing for years.

    Now they just need to put Tie Fighter and KOTOR up on steam, and we'll be good.

  • rudyroundhead

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 6:43 pm PT

    They need to remake or rerelease the X-Wing and Tie Fighter games!

  • jrabbit99

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 6:28 pm PT

    can't wait!!!

  • Zloth2

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 6:13 pm PT

    Star Wars: Rebellion?

  • Glade_Gnarr

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 6:11 pm PT

    I know it's not for the PC but zombies ate my neighbors should get in there too, with revamped graphics and online co-op. But the music should stay intact.

  • baal46

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 5:26 pm PT

    This is the best thing LA could possibly have done. I'm hoping to see ALL Lucas-developed titles on Steam in the near future.

  • Padrepride

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 4:56 pm PT

    Yes!!! Star Wars Starfighter!!

  • PeterParker

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 4:32 pm PT

    OMG, give me X-Wing and Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis back!

  • strayfies

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 4:29 pm PT

    I still have a copy of X-Wing Alliance, but I have to patch it with fonts nowadays. Still, it's the only reason I have a joystick. Can't wait for BF2, and JK2.

    Rep Commando and JK2 are both in the Best of Lucasarts PC pack, so if Steam charges higher than like $20 a title, I recommend visiting Amazon and getting it there.

    Wee, can't wait for these games though!

  • viewtiful_jay

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 3:47 pm PT

    I was kinda hoping for Full Throttle, Day of the Tentacle, or even some of the X-Wing/Tie Fighter games. But this is a decent start. I'm all over The Dig when it launches.

  • mvlbr

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 3:43 pm PT

    Hey where's Maniac Mansion ?

  • MFazio23

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 3:41 pm PT

    FATE OF ATLANTIS!

    I have two copies for the Mac, one for PC, and I'll probably buy it again. One of my all-time favorite games.

  • somberfox

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 3:39 pm PT

    Needs X-Wing & co.

  • BloodMist

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 3:39 pm PT

    The DIG!!Coolest move Lucasarts has made in about 7 years or so.

  • vaejas

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 3:39 pm PT

    Fanfreakintastic!

  • Oloryn

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 3:22 pm PT

    Really cool move Lucas Arts, you have some great classics, glad to see em back in rotation, especially for the ones that are harder to find. I'm stoked to see The Dig because it gives hope for some other great adventure games as well!

  • GodzillaX8

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 3:17 pm PT

    I no longer have to hate Lucasarts! Yay!

  • remysola

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 3:10 pm PT

    Good! Now I can buy the games. Since in my country are impossible to find it at retail.

  • Mp5slipknot

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 2:59 pm PT

    This is the best thing Lucas Arts has done in a while.

  • Tyuca

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 2:54 pm PT

    OMG OMG OMG!!!.. Grandes Noticias hahahah XD.... great! (y)...

  • ele975

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 2:53 pm PT

    haha, i still got Republic Commando, CD works well and runs well with Vista and everything, no errors whatsoever! ;D now THAT'S quality work!

  • arcsquad12

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 2:50 pm PT

    YES! NOW I WILL BE ABLE TO PLAY TIE FIGHTER AGAIN!
    AND JEDI KNIGHT AND DARK FORCES AND SO MANY OTHERS!
    THANK YOU LUCASARTS!

  • theoldalfer

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 2:48 pm PT

    I remember playing "The Dig" on my Pentium Overdrive 83Mhz Dos/Windows 3.1 PC when it was new. It was a very fun adventure game.

  • ThePowerOfHAT

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 2:43 pm PT

    Funny, I sent an email to LucasArts about a year ago suggesting that they do exactly this (even specifying that they do it on Steam). Here's hoping that Full Throttle and Dark Forces (and, hell, Jedi Knight) make appearances soon.

  • mbashour

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 2:42 pm PT

    i am psyched for the fate of atlantis...never thought id see it again. sweet!

  • Taegre

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 2:31 pm PT

    Everybody crying for Full Throttle, read the full article. More games are coming, this is merely the first batch of many releases to come.

  • luke516

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 2:31 pm PT

    OmG BattleFront II !!!!!!

advertisement
Click Here

Hot Stories

Newsmakers

Featured Stories

Submit News

Got tips? Send them in!

Related Game

Star Wars Republic Commando Boxshot
Star Wars Republic Commando

Game Stats

  • Rank:
    602 of 80,015
    (up by 19)
    PC Rank:
    220 of 12,654
    Tracking:
    4,837 Track It»
    Wishlists:
    1,874 Wish It»
  • Users Now Playing:
    1,157
  • Number of Players:

    1-4, 16 Online | Offline Modes: Competitive, Team Oriented | Online Modes: Competitive, Team Oriented

  • Top 5 User Tags:
    1. star wars
    2. republic commando
    3. fps
    4. lucasarts
    5. sci-fi
  • Teen Rating Description

    Titles rated T (Teen) have content that may be suitable for ages 13 and older. Titles in this category may contain violence, suggestive themes, crude humor, minimal blood, simulated gambling, and/or infrequent use of strong language. Learn more

Full Game Details »Close
Also on

Related Games

Recent News

See All News »

Site Blogs