Star Wars: Hunters, a class-based arena shooter developed by Zynga, is set to shut down on October 1st, a mere 16 months after its global launch on mobile and Nintendo Switch. This news comes on the heels of Specter Divide, a multiplayer shooter developed by Mountaintop Studios, which announced its pending shut down just recently.

The game, which features original characters from the Star Wars universe, had a soft launch in select countries in 2021 but didn't get a global launch until June 2024. Despite its relatively short lifespan, the game's developers are offering some parting gifts to players, including an extended current season by three weeks and the release of a new hero on April 15th. The ranked leaderboards will also remain active until the game's shutdown in October.

This news is particularly noteworthy given the recent trend of live-service games struggling to gain traction and maintain a player base. Specter Divide, which lasted only six months before its shutdown, is a stark reminder of the challenges faced by developers in this space. The shutdown of Star Wars: Hunters raises questions about the viability of live-service games and the importance of sustainable business models in the gaming industry.

The failure of these games can have significant implications for the gaming industry as a whole. The shutdown of Star Wars: Hunters will likely result in job losses and a shift in resources for Zynga. Moreover, the trend of live-service games struggling to succeed could lead to a reevaluation of the business models used by game developers and publishers.

In the context of the gaming industry, the shutdown of Star Wars: Hunters serves as a reminder of the importance of creating engaging and sustainable games that can maintain a player base over time. As the industry continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how game developers and publishers adapt to these challenges and create new business models that can support the creation of successful live-service games.

For now, fans of Star Wars: Hunters will have to bid farewell to the game and its characters. While the shutdown is undoubtedly disappointing, it's a stark reminder of the realities of the gaming industry and the importance of creating games that can stand the test of time.