Cars 3: Driven to Win removed without warning

Cars 3: Driven to Win, developed by Avalanche Software and published by Warner Bros., is no longer available on the Nintendo eShop, PlayStation Store, or Microsoft Store as of April 2026. Physical versions of the game remain playable on consoles, which is currently the only way to play it after the digital editions were delisted.

Development history

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment announced the development and publishing of Cars 3: Driven to Win in early 2017, following an agreement with Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media. Avalanche Software, which had been re-established by Warner Bros. after being shut down by Disney in 2016, developed the game. The deal also gave Warner Bros. the rights to Avalanche's Octane development engine, which was used for Cars 3.

Why it was taken offline

No official statement has been released so far by Avalanche Software or Warner Bros. regarding the removal of Cars 3 from digital storefronts. However, many fans suspect it is tied to the expiration of the licensing agreement between Disney and Warner Bros., especially with 2026 marking the franchise's 20th anniversary.

Impact on players and the industry

Players who bought the game digitally before it was removed can still play it, but new players now only have the option of buying a physical copy. This is another example of how delisting games can have a major impact, especially when it happens without warning. In most cases, these shutdowns are announced in advance, but Cars 3 was pulled unexpectedly, disappointing many players.

Despite the fate of Cars 3: Driven to Win, Avalanche Software remains an important player in the game industry, especially with the recent release of Hogwarts Legacy in 2023. The development and experience behind these titles stand in stark contrast to the challenges faced by older games like Cars 3.