Free-to-play Mecha shooter Gundam Evolution is shutting down in November
by Danny Craig
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Bandai Namco
Bandai Namco has announced that its first-person shooter title, Gundam Evolution, is shutting down just one year after its original launch.
The details:
- Gundam Evolution executive producer Kazuya Maruyama confirmed the game's services will end on November 29, 2023, in a new post on the game's official website. The game was first released on PC in September 2022, before being released two months later on both last and current generation Xbox and PlayStation consoles, adding it to the growing list of live service titles that have or will become unplayable not long after release.
- The reason for the closure is unclear, with Maruyama stating simply that Bandai Namco has "determined that it is no longer possible for [Bandai Namco] to provide a service that satisfies [its] players." It's possible that the decision was motivated by the steep decline in player numbers from a peak of 56,911 at launch to a daily 600-700 concurrent player count, as well as its reliance on that group of players being willing to pay cash to purchase in-game microtransactions.
- Following its release, Gundam Evolution received mixed reactions, with many praising its fun, fast-paced gameplay and use of the Gundam franchise, but harsh criticism was leveled at its monetization system. In typical free-to-play fashion, players were given the option of grinding for tens of hours to unlock a single mecha unit or spending real money to acquire better items and equipment, which resulted in numerous balancing issues between the two groups.
Other upcoming game shutdowns:
- Activision announced that the original version of its Call of Duty battle royale mode Warzone, known as Warzone Caldera, would be discontinued on September 21, 2023. All content from the battle royale will remain available in the main COD titles from which it evolved, but its maps, Rebirth Island and Caldera will no longer be playable.
- Pac-Man 99, Bandai Namco's Pac-Man battle royale, will be closed on October 8, 2023. The game and add-ons will be removed from the Nintendo eShop in August, but those who own the game and add-ons will be able to play the content offline.
