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LucasArts brings back catalog to Steam

By Brendan Sinclair, GameSpotPosted Jul 6, 2009 11:14 am PT

[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

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