Another live service game has announced it’s going offline less than a year after it launched, and this one has the backing of a blockbuster IP.
The history of licensed video games shows how the support of a major franchise doesn’t always translate to success, but it can certainly help. as seen with games like Marvel Rivals and Hogwarts Legacy.
Unfortunately, that isn’t the case for Star Wars: Hunters though. The little known free-to-play, competitive arena combat game was released in June last year but just over nine months later, developer Zynga has announced it will go offline on October 1, 2025.
‘We understand this news may be disappointing and want to assure you that this decision was not made lightly,’ the announcement post reads. ‘Your passion and dedication to the game and its community have meant the world to us, and we are committed to providing visibility and updates throughout the transition process.’
In light of this news, Season 5 of Star Wars: Hunters will be extended by three weeks, starting from March 25. The game’s final content update, with new support hunter Tuya, will be released for free on April 15. On this same date, in-game purchases will be disabled across all platforms.
The online servers will shut down on October 1, which is when Star Wars: Hunters will be delisted and no longer playable in any capacity.
As confirmed in a Q&A page, players are not entitled to refunds on any in-game currency they have purchased. The post reads: ‘The intention of the 30-day notice we are giving between March 17 and turning off in-app purchases on April 15 is to give players ample time to prepare and spend the in-game currency they have purchased.’
Zynga also confirmed the previously announced PC port ‘will no longer launch’, for obvious reasons. The game is currently available on Nintendo Switch and mobile.
As one Star Wars game shuts down though, another is set to rise next month. A strategy game based on the franchise is set to be revealed during a panel at Star Wars Celebration in Tokyo, Japan on April 19.
The untitled game, which was originally announced back in 2022, is a collaboration between Star Wars Jedi: Survivor’s Respawn and Bit Reactor, a new independent studio comprised of former XCOM and Civilization developers.
A listing on the Star Wars Celebration line-up promises a ‘first look at a new Star Wars turn-based tactics game’, with representatives from Bit Reactor, Respawn, and Lucasfilm Games.
As for other Star Wars games in the pipeline, Saber Interactive CEO Matthew Karch recently told Game File the long-troubled Knights Of The Old Republic remake is still in development, although there’s still no indication of a release date – or indeed proof of how the game is coming along.
A sequel to Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is also in the works at Respawn, which will be the third and final entry in the series, albeit without series creator Stig Asmussen.
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