Older games often seem to disappear from online storefronts with about as much frequency as random shows or films disappearing from Netflix, and we usually get about the same amount of explanation. After the removal of the Descent series from GOG.com, it looked like we would once again be kept in the dark on what exactly was going on behind the scenes, but Parallax Software co-founder Matthew Toschlog thankfully stepped in to clear the air.

“Parallax Software still exists and still owns the copyrights to the Descent games,” Toschlog explained in a post on the GOG forums (via Gamastura). “Under our 21-year-old agreement, Interplay has the exclusive rights to sell Descent and Descent II, and they have been doing so on Good Old Games (GOG) and Steam.”

“The problem is that Interplay has not paid to Parallax any royalties since 2007. We’ve talked to them about this numerous times over the years, and finally took action this fall. We served Interplay official notice that they were in breach of the contract, and when they still failed to pay we terminated the agreement.”

“This means that Interplay has lost the right to sell the Descent games, which is why they came down from GOG. (We’re not sure why they’re still on Steam; they shouldn’t be.)”

Toschlog said that Interplay does own the Descent trademark, which it is free to use in new titles such as the Steam Early Access game Descent Underground, but that does not give Interplay the right to sell earlier games in the Descent catalog.

Toschlog added, “As for whether Descent and Descent II will be available for purchase again, we hope so. We’d be very happy to work things out with Interplay.”

While fans may be upset that they are currently unable to buy the early Descent games, it is refreshing to at least know what exactly has been going on behind the scenes.

Image courtesy of Descendant Studios Inc via Steam Store