Steel Hunters Shuts Down Just Three Months After Early Access Launch
On October 31, 2023, Wargaming officially announced the shutdown of Steel Hunters, their mech shooter game, marking the end of its service merely three months after entering early access. The closure affects all regions globally and is attributed to the game’s inability to meet player expectations and sustain a viable player base.
According to the official statement released on the Steel Hunters website and Wargaming’s support portal, the decision was made after careful evaluation of the game’s performance metrics and community feedback. The developers expressed gratitude to the players who supported the game during its brief lifespan.
Steel Hunters was developed by the team behind World of Tanks and aimed to deliver fast-paced mech combat with a live-service model. Despite the pedigree and initial interest, the game struggled with technical issues, including frequent crashes reported by users on platforms such as Reddit and Steam forums, which further impacted player retention.
The shutdown announcement was also covered by multiple gaming news outlets, including Eurogamer, Rock Paper Shotgun, and PCGamesN, all highlighting the unusually short lifecycle of the title and the challenges faced by live-service games in a competitive market.
Players are advised to check official channels for details regarding account data, refunds, and final in-game events before the service termination date.
Sources:
- Official Steel Hunters website and support pages
- Wargaming official announcement
- Eurogamer: “Yet Another Live Service Game Announces Shut Down Just Three Months After Early Access Launch”
- Rock Paper Shotgun: “Steel Hunters Gets a Shutdown Date Just Three Months After Early Access Release”
- PCGamesN: “Steel Hunters Shut Down Announcement”