King of Fighters ALLSTAR, the popular beat 'em up ARPG, is shutting down on October 30th, 2024. Netmarble, the developer, announced the closure on their official forums, stating that in-app purchases have already been disabled.
This news comes as a surprise, given the game's six-year run and numerous high-profile collaborations with other fighting game franchises. The developer's announcement hints that a contributing factor to the closure is the depletion of characters from the King of Fighters roster suitable for adaptation into the game. While this is likely not the sole reason, it offers some insight into the decision.
What's Next?
The closure of King of Fighters ALLSTAR sadly continues a trend of long-running mobile live-service games ending service. This highlights the challenges of maintaining these titles and suggests that even in the thriving mobile gaming market, financial sustainability remains a significant hurdle.
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