Brief-lived
The online game business is stuffed with success tales, and likewise tales of wrestle. The newest instance of the latter got here from developer Wildlight’s free-to-play shooter Highguard. The sport had a high-profile displaying at The Sport Awards, however confronted an uphill battle when it comes to sentiment for numerous causes.
Highguard formally launched in late January 2026, and whereas it had a powerful begin when it comes to participant numbers, the momentum did not final. In mid-February, Wildlight laid off many of the workers, and on March 3, the corporate introduced what many had predicted: Highguard was closing for good after lower than two months.
However is the Highguard scenario unprecedented? Let’s look again at different video games which have launched and closed unexpectedly rapidly, or in any other case been compelled to make a significant pivot with its enterprise mannequin.
Highguard
Developer Wildlight’s free-to-play shooter Highguard attracted 2 million gamers and reached practically 100,000 peak concurrent customers on Steam alone upon launch in late January 2026. Nonetheless, Wildlight was unable to maintain the momentum, and on March 3, the studio introduced that the sport’s servers would shut for good on March 12, 2026.
This outcome was not completely surprising. In any case, Wildlight enacted mass layoffs shortly after launch, reportedly resulting from Tencent pulling funding after the sport’s launch and subsequent player-retention struggles.
Launched: January 26, 2026Server shutdown: March 12, 2026
Harmony
Sony’s shooter Harmony launched in August 2024, and simply 11 days later, the writer introduced that the multiplayer shooter would shut down for good on September 6 of that yr.
Not solely was Harmony taken offline, however its developer, Firewalk, was shuttered.
Harmony had extraordinarily low participant numbers on Steam (and presumably PS5 as nicely) as the sport is estimated to have solely offered 25,000 copies throughout all techniques as of the top of August. Regardless of the low participant numbers, few may have predicted that Sony would make such a dramatic choice to cease gross sales, shut the servers, and refund everybody after such a brief time period.
Launched: August 23, 2024Server shutdown: September 6, 2024
Battleborn
Developed by Borderlands studio Gearbox and revealed by 2K, Battleborn had plenty of pleasure and hype behind it–but the sport didn’t repay. Launched in 2016 as a premium recreation, Battleborn struggled out there partially as a result of one other recreation, Blizzard’s Overwatch, got here out weeks later and ate its lunch. In 2017, Battleborn adopted a free-to-play enterprise mannequin, however that could not save the sport both, and it will definitely closed for good in January 2021.
Battleborn’s failure to discover a footing out there got here regardless of Gearbox investing closely in it. Gearbox’s Randy Pitchford mentioned, “We have invested greater than Borderlands 1 and a couple of added collectively in Battleborn.” On the time, Pitchford unknowingly foreshadowed Battleborn’s destiny. “We do not even know if individuals shall be or not,” he mentioned.
Launched: Might 2016Server shutdown: January 2021
Crucible
Amazon Video games did not precisely hit the bottom operating with its gaming efforts, as one of many firm’s first huge releases, Crucible, did not reside lengthy and had an odd improvement historical past. The free-to-play area shooter turned out there to obtain in Might 2020 for PC, however, resulting from quite a lot of causes, Amazon opted to revert it again to a closed beta in June 2020. On the time, the studio mentioned it was soliciting suggestions and conducting additional exams to assist get Crucible in a greater place for fulfillment out there. However in October 2020, Amazon confirmed it was discontinuing improvement efforts on Crucible and shifting focus elsewhere.
Launched: Might 2020Server shutdown: By no means got here again on-line publicly after reverting to closed beta in June 2020
LawBreakers
After leaving Epic Video games, Gears of Conflict designer Cliff Bleszinski began a brand new studio, Boss Key, which produced the sector shooter LawBreakers with Nexon as its first title. Sadly for Bleszinski and firm, the sport failed to seek out an viewers. And regardless of Bleszinski’s efforts to avoid wasting the sport, it in the end shut down in September 2018, solely 13 months after its launch.
Launched: August 2017Server shutdown: September 2018
Radical Heights
After the failure of LawBreakers, Boss Key shifted its sights to the burgeoning battle royale market with Radical Heights, however this recreation additionally by no means broke out. Radical Heights felt, to some, like a half-baked experiment somewhat than a recreation individuals would possibly really feel compelled to return to many times. The sport, and the studio itself, would in the end shut up store for good.
Launched: April 2018Server shutdown: September 2018
Anthem
Esteemed RPG studio BioWare launched a live-service recreation known as Anthem in 2019, nevertheless it failed to draw a wide-enough playerbase. EA and BioWare reportedly thought of rebooting the sport with new techniques to draw and retain extra gamers, however EA formally introduced in February 2021 that Anthem wouldn’t get extra improvement assist and staffers would shift to different tasks. Anthem’s servers stay on-line as of September 2024, so anybody having fun with the sport nonetheless has one thing to play, however Anthem would by no means attain its full potential and won’t be remembered amongst BioWare’s biggest hits.
Launched: February 2019Servers nonetheless on-line however Anthem is just not getting new improvement assist.
Knockout Metropolis
The “dodgebrawl” recreation Knockout Metropolis from Velan Studios had a enjoyable idea and an enticing gameplay loop, together with the backing of writer Digital Arts. Nonetheless, Knockout Metropolis failed to seek out an viewers or sufficient gross sales to maintain its ongoing live-service mannequin. The sport launched in Might 2021 however EA would ultimately hand over the publishing rights to Velan in June 2021, at which era the sport adopted a very free-to-play mannequin. Finally, nonetheless, Knockout Metropolis by no means caught on, and the official servers closed in June 2023. A Non-public Server Version stays out there for the devoted group of followers who wish to preserve taking part in.
Launched: Might 2021Server shutdown: Official servers closed in June 2023, however a Non-public Server Version remains to be on-line.
Bleeding Edge
UK developer Ninja Idea discovered success in 2017 with Hellblade, and one among its subsequent tasks, Bleeding Edge, was a very completely different sort of recreation that many most likely neglect even existed. The multiplayer on-line battle area recreation (keep in mind MOBAs?) was launched in 2020 for Xbox and PC, however only a yr later in January 2021, the studio mentioned it was ending improvement on the sport and would transfer its focus to Hellblade II and different tasks. The sport’s servers are nonetheless on-line, nonetheless, which is sweet information for anybody nonetheless serious about taking part in.
Launched: March 2020Servers stay on-line however the recreation is just not getting extra improvement assist.
RumbleVerse
Iron Galaxy’s preventing recreation RumbleVerse had plenty of hype and expectation behind it, however the free-to-play battle-royale brawler did not reside lengthy. It was launched in August 2022 and closed on the finish of February 2023–a lifespan of simply six months. In a press release, the builders mentioned making the sport was a “labor of affection” and hinted on the purpose for its closing. The studio mentioned the style is “common and extremely aggressive,” and the sport doubtless simply could not discover an viewers.
Launched: August 2022Server shutdown: February 2023
Gigantic
Good World Leisure’s MOBA Gigantic was not a big success (please forgive me). The free-to-play recreation debuted in July 2017, nevertheless it was only a few months later when the builders at Motiga introduced that energetic improvement was ending. And in July 2018, the servers have been shut down for good. There’s some excellent news, although, as a model of the sport known as Gigantic: Rampage Version got here out in April 2024.
Launched: July 2017Server shutdown: July 2018 (however Gigantic Version servers are nonetheless on-line)
Warhaven
Warhaven, a sword-based multiplayer recreation, was launched into Steam early entry on September 20, 2023, and after solely seven months of early entry and previous to the sport’s deliberate console launch, Nexon opted to close it down in April 2024. The writer mentioned it was with a “heavy coronary heart” that it might quickly be shutting down the sword-based multiplayer title’s reside service operations.
Launched: September 2023Server shutdown: April 2024
Mortal Kombat Onslaught
The team-based RPG Mortal Kombat Onslaught was billed as the subsequent huge cellular model of the favored preventing recreation, nevertheless it was not meant to be. The sport was faraway from the App Retailer and Google Play on July 22 and can formally flip off servers on October 21, 2024.
Onslaught initially debuted on October 17, 2023, so it is shutting down simply over a yr after it launched.
“It has been an honor creating this recreation for our Kommunity,” the developer mentioned.
Mortal Kombat Onslaught was developed by NetherRealm Studios, the identical developer behind the principle sequence. No clarification was given for why Onslaught is shutting down.
Launched: October 2023Server shutdown: October 2024
Many Extra
Sadly, loads of video games have suffered the identical destiny as those talked about above when it comes to going reside and shutting down comparatively rapidly. Listed below are just a few extra examples:
Star Wars Rebellion servers closed a yr after launchingCapcom’s Puzzle Fighter did not reside longSuper Bomberman R closed after lower than two yearsTotal Conflict: Enviornment, which by no means left beta, closed up in February 2019Gundam Evolution shut down after a yr
