After six long years of waiting from fans, the 2010 Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game video game is finally being rereleased on January 14. As the hit feature film by Edgar Wright celebrated its 10th anniversary in August 2020, rumors began to pick up about its return. When the rumors were officially confirmed the following month, it came as quite a surprise. So surprising, in fact, that Scott Pilgrim's own creator, Bryan O'Malley, wasn't even aware of Ubisoft's rerelease plans until after he teased the possibility on Twitter. Yet all of this prompts one major question: why was the game absent in the first place?

Given the enduring popularity of the movie, and the success of the game when it came out, the fact that it was unavailable for more than half a decade is downright puzzling. All the more so given it's part of a multifaceted franchise that includes graphic novels as well as the movie. When a game is delisted, it's usually because it's exceptionally reviled (Ride to Hell: Retribution) or buggy and broken to the point of being borderline unplayable (Cyberpunk 2077).

Related: The Best Way To Read Scott Pilgrim Vs The World's Comics

Neither of those conditions ever applied to this particular title. From its initial release on August 10, 2010 (three days before the feature film), Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game was an immediate hit. With the superb chip tune soundtrack by Anamanaguchi, retro beat-'em-up gameplay, and clever references, it received generally positive reviews and was a hit with the IP's established fanbase. By allowing players to control Scott Pilgrim, Ramona Flowers, Kim Pine, and Stephen Stills, the battles with the Evil Exes had even more resonance.

Delisting May Ultimately Help Scott Pilgrim's Popularity

Scott Pilgrim The Game Reissue Edition

On December 30, 2014, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game was suddenly delisted from the Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network. The reason as to why wasn't made abundantly clear, as there was no official statement. However, it was likely due to the license expiring with Ubisoft. Whatever the reason, fans were upset, and demanded its return in the following years.

While it would have been ideal for Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game to be re-released to coincide exactly with the movie's big anniversary, the anticipation built up by its years of absence might ultimately be to its benefit. In addition to original fans excited to rediscover the game, there are also new players who will enjoy it for the first time on more advanced consoles and PC settings. On top of that, it will be available on more platforms this time around: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Stadia, and PC. More importantly, the Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World: The Game - Complete Edition is somewhat different from the original release because it also includes DLC like Knives Chau and Wallace Wells. Even without all these new features, however, longtime fans and players will simply be happy to have it back.

Next: Nintendo & Sega References In Scott Pilgrim's Game Soundtrack Explained