Sega unexpectedly removed Sonic the Hedgehog 1 and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 from Google Play and the App Store. The games, available for many years as part of the free Sega Forever initiative with advertising, are disappearing from digital shelves. Fans are wondering why?
The mobile ports, created by Christian Whitehead, were considered some of the best versions, with support for widescreen displays and improved physics. Their removal hints at a change in Sega's strategy in the mobile market. Perhaps this is being done to prepare for a new paid product, likely a mobile version of Sonic Origins, which combines the classic installments.
If the games are already installed, you shouldn't delete them – they will continue to work, and the download option will remain in the purchase history. For new users, mobile access to Green Hill Zone is temporarily closed. Sega is clearly optimizing its portfolio, but this comes at the expense of accessibility.