Epic Games Store has begun removing the title Dishonored: Death of the Outsider from users in Russia and Belarus, a move reported by DTF Portal. Previously, the game was available free of charge as part of a promotional raffle for all users, with no regional limitations at the time of distribution.
As the promotion rolled out, players in Russia and Belarus could claim the game without encountering regional barriers. Shortly after, many recipients received notices indicating that the transaction had been canceled. This sequence of events raised questions about the reasons behind the rollback.
Official explanations from Epic Games Store about the cancellation were not provided. Analysts and industry observers speculate that the publisher, Bethesda, may have paused sales of its catalog in Russia and Belarus, which could account for the sudden revocation of free access in those markets. In such scenarios, digital storefronts sometimes adjust offers to align with regional compliance and sanction guidelines, even when the promotion itself has already been initiated by users in the affected areas.
This incident is not the first instance of promotional titles being rolled back on the Epic platform. The ability to claim a free game often depends on regional licensing and ongoing agreements between publishers and platform operators. When those licenses or terms shift, the platform may implement a reversal of the offer to ensure all promotions remain legally sound and in line with current policy.
Industry observers note that promotions of this kind can serve as both marketing leverage and risk vectors for digital storefronts. For players, the practical takeaway is simple: regional changes can affect access to free titles even after a claim has appeared as complete. Users in other regions, such as North America and parts of Europe, generally continue to see the promotional flow as expected, with occasional differences tied to local compliance rules. In the end, the dynamics reflect the broader landscape of digital distribution where licensing, sanctions, and publisher decisions shape what appears in a storefront at any given moment. Attribution: DTF Portal.