History Main / TemporaryOnlineContent

** Some old vehicles were discontinued because later found to be not historically-based enough (such as the Coelian or the Panther II) or unbalanceable (like the Maus). If you unlocked them you can keep them, but other players won't be able to use them. The latter however can be researched during the anniversary of the game in November, for a brief period of two weeks.
** Periodical events let you possibly unlock special gift vehicles and other cosmetic items that are available for this occasion only. If you miss them, most can be purchased with real money from the marketplace. But some (low tier ones) are only available if you play the event.
** Several premiums have been removed from the store and some, although not all, periodically return just for special occasions, such as the celebration days of specific armed forces.

* ''VideoGame/WarThunder'' has some old vehicles that were discontinued because later found to be not historically-based enough (such as the Coelian or the Panther II) or unbalanceable (like the Maus). If you unlocked them you can keep them, but other players won't be able to use them. The latter however can be researched during the anniversary of the game in November, for a brief period of two weeks. Also, several premiums have been removed from the store and some periodically return just for special occasions, such as the days of specific armed forces.

** Brawl Pass and Power League exclusive skins, obtainable only during their respective seasons. After Season 11, all newly-released skins of these types become permanently available for purchase after a year of unavailability, but the same cannot be said for any Brawl Pass and Power League skins released beforehand.

* ''Rockman Mega World'', a [[UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis Mega Drive]] {{compilation|Rerelease}} of the first three [[UsefulNotes/NintendoEntertainmentSystem Famicom]] ''VideoGame/{{Mega Man|Classic}}'' games with 16-bit graphics and sound (and a small yet brand new secret fourth game), was in fact released in Europe as ''VideoGame/MegaManTheWilyWars''. The North American version was only available via the now-defunct Sega Channel, meaning that the game was lost once the service was discontinued. However, the game did see limited physical re-releases throughout TheNewTens and TheNewTwenties, as well as being added to the [[UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitchOnline Nintendo Switch Online]] library in 2022.
* The [[DownloadableContent Hurricane Packs]] for [[VideoGame/NinjaGaiden2004 the original]] ''VideoGame/NinjaGaiden'' UsefulNotes/{{Xbox}} game, following the discontinuation of the original UsefulNotes/XboxLive service. While ''Ninja Gaiden Black'' carries over most of the content from the Hurricane Packs (extra game modes and costumes), the famed Intercept move was removed, due to the developers deeming it [[GameBreaker too powerful]].

* Predating [[Creator/ElectronicArts EA's]] always-online games are Creator/{{Nintendo}}'s UsefulNotes/{{Satellaview}} ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'' titles. Specifically, a remake of the original ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaI'' for the SNES with different dungeon layouts, and a sequel of sorts to ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast A Link to the Past]]''. These titles were transmitted via satellite and programmed to only be executable within a certain date and time, checking them against the Satellaview cartridge's RTC. Although the Satellaview does not delete these "expired" games automatically, they are no longer playable. Especially since the game needs to be played while an accompanying audio drama is playing out on the TV at the same time. Thankfully, someone had made a recording of the audio drama, and coupled with the extraction of the game from the Satellaview cart and patched, the game is now fully emulated.

* The UsefulNotes/WiiU exclusive ''VideoGame/AffordableSpaceAdventures'' has a post-credits scene where a survey form the player fills out near the end of the game, plus any Website/{{Miiverse}} drawing made, emerges from an interstellar fax machine in the office of UExplore's safety director, ending up on the floor with numerous other calls for help from other players. Since the end of the Miiverse service, it is impossible to accomplish this ending (though the game does have an offline mode).

* Jill Valentine and Shuma-Gorath were characters from ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom3'' that were available at launch, but only when downloaded from a digital marketplace, until all ''Marvel Vs. Capcom 3'' content was removed from digital markets at the end of December 2013. This also applies to the updated re-release, ''Ultimate Marvel Vs. Capcom 3'', which still required the two characters to be downloaded. Averted in the UsefulNotes/PlayStation4 and UsefulNotes/XboxOne releases, however, where all the DLC is available, including Jill and Shuma.

* The original UsefulNotes/{{Dreamcast}} versions of ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'' and to a lesser extent ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'' had a number of online features that were missing from all later ports. There were online contests and global rankings with physical rewards, downloadable events and challenges, and the ability to share Chao online. Additionally, players could download rare and otherwise unobtainable Chao from the Black Market. Nearly all of these features were lost even for the Dreamcast versions, as they used the games' official websites, which closed down years ago. Players can still find most of the Dreamcast-exclusive DLC floating on the web, and they can still be played despite their online contests no longer being active, but the first kart event, and the Black Market Chao downloads, seem to be lost.

* The UsefulNotes/PlayStationVita release of ''VideoGame/AtelierMeruruTheApprenticeOfArland'' had, for the first month of release, a DLC with swimsuit outfits.

* The UsefulNotes/NintendoDS and UsefulNotes/{{Wii}} servers were shut down in 2014, leaving games with DownloadableContent missing quite a lot of content.

* The UsefulNotes/SegaDreamcast, known as the first online console ever, had its own internet browser as well as games with exclusive content only downloadable by this system (the prime example is ''VideoGame/{{Shenmue}} Passport''). Being this console discontinued since 2001-2002, this online system shut down and all the possible content [[KeepCirculatingTheTapes is now history]].

* The UsefulNotes/PlayStation3 game ''Buzz: Quiz World'' has a trophy for starting the game from ''VideoGame/PlaystationHome''. Seeing as the latter game has been [[DefunctOnlineVideoGames shut down]], if you don't already have the trophy you'll never be able to get it.

* The most salient point critics of the download-only [[UsefulNotes/PlayStationPortable PSP Go]] raised about its lack of a UMD drive was what owners were supposed to do about games that for whatever reason were no longer listed on the [=PlayStation=] Store. The answer, obviously, is that they're screwed as far as getting a legit copy is concerned; these games can still be had with an unauthorized firmware update and quick internet search, but there's no way to [[KeepCirculatingTheTapes obtain copies by legally paying for them anymore]].

** The first [[HolidayMode Christmas event]], which will be from December 18-24, 2023, will double all the Dream Shards gathered from Sleep Research in Greengrass Isle and will give you the chance to befriend special Pikachu wearing Santa hats, which can't evolve.

** Brawl Pass exclusive skins, obtainable only during their respective season.

Not to be confused with PermanentlyMissableContent, in which goods ''can'' (despite the name) be reobtained, but only by starting over your game, or SaveScumming (the ''story'', instead of RealLife events, is what makes the content inaccessible from a certain point). Can overlap with ItOnlyWorksOnce and TooAwesomeToUse, but doesn't have to. Compare DenialOfDigitalDistribution. For the logical extreme, see DefunctOnlineVideoGames.

* ''VideoGame/DeadByDaylight'', just by virtue of being an online-only experience, will inevitably fall victim to this, but one facet that occured during its playable lifetime: Chapter 13 of its downloadable content, based on ''Series/StrangerThings'', was removed from sale just a little over two years after its initial release, as Creator/{{Netflix}} declined to renew their contract with Behaviour. Anyone who bought or unlocked its inclusions gets to keep and use them, and its personal AchievementSystem was generalized to avoid preventing OneHundredPercentCompletion, but its Underground Complex map was removed from playable rotation for all players.

** The first [[HolidayMode Halloween event]] in ''VideoGame/PokemonSleep'', which was from October 30 - November 5, 2023, doubled all the Pokémon Candies gathered from Sleep Research in Greengrass Isle and gave you the chance to befriend special Pikachu wearing Halloween hats, which can't evolve. The event also coincided with the monthly Good Sleep Day event, which increased Snorlax's Drowsy Power and stacked with the Halloween event's Candy boost if research was conducted on Greengrass Isle.

** The first [[HolidayMode Halloween event]] in ''VideoGame/PokemonSleep'', which will be from October 30 - November 5, 2023, doubles all the Pokémon Candies gathered from Sleep Research in Greengrass Isle and gives you the chance to befriend special Pikachu wearing Halloween hats, which can't evolve. The event also coincides with the monthly Good Sleep Day event, which increases Snorlax's Drowsy Power and stacks with the Halloween event's Candy boost if research is conducted on Greengrass Isle.

** While ''every'' seasonal loot box is this (at least until the event rolls around again the next year), a special note is reserved for the "Boop!" spray that debuted during Halloween Terror. There were two sprays: one that was simply "Boo!", something you'd expect to see in any fun Halloween event. The second was "Boop!", with the "P" added with purple spray paint. The spray wasn't given much thought by players, largely because the word really held no meaning and seemed just like any other random spray... until three days after the Halloween event ended, and [[ChekhovsGun "Boop!"]] was revealed to be the CatchPhrase of the new hero, Sombra, and said catchphrase became an instant meme. This led to a lot of players kicking themselves about missing out.

*** What makes this one worse is that the Battle for the Undercity quest ends with Varian Wrynn declaring war on the Horde, explaining why the Horde and the Alliance are at each other's throats in ''Cataclysm''. (The other major cause of the war, [[BloodKnight Garrosh Hellscream]] replacing Thrall as Warchief, happened in a pre-patch event that was ''also'' removed when the expansion proper launched.)

* ''VideoGame/WarThunder'' has some old vehicles that were discontinued because later found to be not historically-based enough (such as the Coelian or the Panther II) or unbalanceable (like the Maus). If you unlocked them you can keep them, but other players won't be able to use them. The latter however can be researched during the anniversary of the game in November, for a brief period of two weeks.
** Several premiums have been removed from the store and some periodically return just for special occasions, such as the days of specific armed forces.

** ''VideoGame/PokemonScarletAndViolet'' periodically hosts the {{Superboss}} 7-star Tera Raids, where you have to deal with incredibly powerful max level Pokémon who have the unique Mightiest Mark CosmeticAward. While the Pokémon species themselves can be obtained another way another day (such as via trading or transferring from another game), the ones with said Mightiest Mark are only available during the period when they are available for battling, and each save file can only catch one of each.