Key Takeaways
- Doley Time Foundation will delist the Xbox console exclusives Boss 101 and Zazmo Arcade Pack after their removal from Steam.
- Both titles will remain purchasable on the Xbox Store until the delisting takes effect, and they can still be played offline after removal from the storefront.
- The decision stems from insufficient revenue; the developer notes that maintaining the website and storefront has cost more than the games have earned over roughly eight years.
- Boss 101 is an arcade‑style action‑adventure where players fight custom‑generated bosses, rescue baby robo‑AIs, and earn cash for upgrades, guns, and hats; it sells for $14.99 with a 4.3/5 user rating.
- Zazmo Arcade Pack bundles several co‑op, single‑player, and competitive arcade‑inspired mini‑games for $9.99.
- Fans are encouraged to buy the games now as a final way to support the indie developers before they disappear from digital storefronts.
The news that two Xbox‑exclusive indie titles are slated for delisting has stirred disappointment among fans of niche gaming experiences. According to a report by Comicbook, the games—Boss 101 and Zazmo Arcade Pack—were recently pulled from PC’s Steam storefront, and Doley Time Foundation has confirmed that the same fate awaits them on the Xbox Store. Because the titles are console exclusives, their removal would mean they can no longer be bought through Xbox’s digital marketplace, although owners who already possess copies will retain access.
Doley Time Foundation explained the decision in a candid statement, citing financial realities rather than any flaw in the games themselves. “The reasons for closing the store are numerous and probably longer than this post could cover,” the studio wrote. “The short of it is we just didn’t nearly make as much money as we’d hoped. Running a store, a business, and the various websites all cost time and money.” The developer highlighted that Boss 101 launched in 2018, with Zazmo Arcade Pack following shortly after. Over the ensuing eight years, the cumulative expense of maintaining the studio’s website and online storefront has exceeded the revenue generated by the two titles. Despite the disappointing numbers, the team affirmed their continued belief in the quality of their work: “I don’t want that to reflect on your decisions to support us because we know you believed in us just as much as we believed in ourselves. In fact, we still believe we have amazing games and that we were going to make more amazing games as we went along. Time and money conspired, and here we are now.”
Boss 101 is described as an arcade‑inspired action‑adventure that centres on a procedurally generated boss‑fighting system. Players use the “Make‑A‑Boss” generator to create unique adversaries, then engage in combat, chase sequences, and missions aimed at rescuing baby robo‑AIs from the clutches of the titular Boss 101. Successful rounds reward cash that can be spent on upgrades, new weapons, and cosmetic hats, enabling players to take on increasingly tougher challenges. The game also features a wide variety of enemy robots, ranging from animals and samurai to aliens and dinosaurs—a quirky detail highlighted in the studio’s synopsis. Priced at $14.99, Boss 101 enjoys a strong reception on Steam, holding a near‑perfect user score of 4.3 out of 5.
The second title, Zazmo Arcade Pack, offers a collection of mini‑games that draw inspiration from classic arcade experiences. The pack includes co‑op, single‑player, and competitive modes, providing varied playstyles for groups or solo enthusiasts. At $9.99, it presents a low‑cost entry point for those looking to sample multiple arcade‑flavoured challenges in one bundle.
Despite the impending delisting, both games remain available for purchase on the Xbox Store at the time of writing, and crucially, they feature offline gameplay. This means that anyone who acquires them before the storefront removal will continue to be able to launch and enjoy the titles without needing an active internet connection or store access. The developer encouraged fans to consider buying the games as a final gesture of support, acknowledging the effort and passion that went into creating these indie gems.
In sum, the delisting of Boss 101 and Zazmo Arcade Pack marks the end of an eight‑year run for Doley Time Foundation’s Xbox exclusives. While financial sustainability ultimately dictated the studio’s decision, the games themselves have garnered positive feedback for their inventive boss‑generation mechanics, varied enemy roster, and arcade‑style mini‑game collection. Players interested in preserving these experiences have a limited window to purchase them and enjoy them offline, offering a respectful farewell to the developers who poured creativity into their projects.