In a move that, unfortunately, is becoming increasingly common in the free-to-play landscape, developer Wargaming has announced the impending shutdown of its mech-based extraction shooter, Steel Hunters. The game, which launched into Early Access just a few months ago in April 2024, will see its servers permanently deactivated on October 8, 2024. This gives the title a rather brief lifespan of roughly seven months post-launch.
The reason cited by Wargaming for this decision is straightforward: development is simply “not sustainable.” While the developer expressed gratitude for the community`s passion and support, the stark reality of the game`s performance likely weighed heavily. According to readily available public data, Steel Hunters saw a peak concurrent player count of under 4,500 shortly after launch. In recent weeks, that number has reportedly dwindled to a mere 250 players. Sustaining a live-service title, especially one featuring competitive multiplayer and regular content updates, is a significant undertaking, and such low engagement numbers make it economically unviable.
Wargaming`s statement acknowledged the disappointment players would feel, stating they genuinely share in it. As a final farewell gesture, the developer is implementing several changes for the remaining roughly 90 days the servers will be active:
- All unique Hunters currently in the game will be unlocked for all players.
- This unlock will also include any new Hunters that were previously in development.
- The ability to host custom games will be introduced.
- A final “farewell” tournament is being planned, with details to be shared on the game`s official Discord server.
These measures aim to give the remaining dedicated players a chance to experience everything the game had to offer before its lights go out.
For those unfamiliar, Steel Hunters positioned itself as an extraction shooter centered around piloting large, customizable mechs known as Hunters. These mechs ranged in design from humanoid combat platforms to mechanical beasts, drawing comparisons to properties like the Zoids anime series. Gameplay involved players dropping into arenas, battling AI-controlled enemies to acquire loot and resources, and attempting to successfully extract, all while navigating the threat of other player-controlled squads.
Wargaming, a company well-known for successful long-running live-service titles like World of Tanks, is no stranger to the model. However, the fate of Steel Hunters underscores the challenging and often unforgiving nature of the live-service market. Steel Hunters is far from the first game in recent times to face such a rapid decommissioning. Other examples include Nexon`s Warhaven and, more recently, Sony`s Concord, which saw its shutdown announced just days after a rocky beta period.
While the closure of Steel Hunters is undoubtedly a disappointment for its players and the development team, it serves as another reminder of the high stakes and difficult odds in launching and maintaining a successful online multiplayer title in today`s crowded ecosystem. The digital graveyard of short-lived live-service games continues to grow, adding Wargaming`s mech shooter to its roster.
Callum Darby