Star Wars: Hunters, the free-to-play, team-based multiplayer game developed by Zynga, is set to shut down its services on October 1, 2025, marking just nine months since its launch. The game, which was announced back in 2021, finally made its debut on June 2024, available on Nintendo Switch, Android, and iOS. A version for PC was initially planned for Early Access on Steam but was scrapped.
The final content update for Star Wars: Hunters is scheduled to be released on April 15, 2025. This unfortunate decision came after the game faced significant challenges, including mixed reviews and disappointing financial performance. According to reports, the game only garnered about $1 million in its first month on the market (excluding Nintendo Switch), which is starkly low compared to other successful mobile games, such as Squad Busters, which hit $24 million during the same period.
The game's reception reflects the struggles it faced. With only 40% of players recommending it on OpenCritic, feedback highlighted several weaknesses. Many players criticized the high cost of cosmetic items, perceived poor value of the battle pass, and disappointment over the slow release schedule of updates, which occurred every three months. Within the competitive mobile gaming scene, this delay has proven detrimental.
To make matters worse, the lack of marketing compounded its problems, along with high system requirements, which limited the game’s audience particularly to regions more reliant on mobile gaming. Zynga’s decision to halt all production for Star Wars: Hunters appears to be tangible evidence of the shifting ground within the gaming industry, especially concerning live-service models. Zynga aims to refocus strategies to determine what their next steps will be following this setback.
While players are encouraged to enjoy the last few months of the game, the announcement has drawn comparisons between Star Wars: Hunters and other recent high-profile live-service failures like MultiVersus and Spectre Divide. “It feels like the game studio is more severe; because not only the game but also the developer studio joins out of business,” noted one contributor reflecting on the state of popular hero shooters.
Looking back, Star Wars: Hunters was intended as part of the wider Star Wars gaming universe. This title was expected to take on traditional hero shooters with its unique spin on the genre, consisting of 4v4 competitive gameplay mechanics. Unfortunately, the strategy has not found the desired traction among players, as seen through the recent events leading to its impending shutdown.
Despite these disappointments, some hope remains for the future of Star Wars games, especially as the Knights of the Old Republic (KOTOR) remake remains on track. For now, though, the community is left to reflect on what could have been as they prepare for the final content drop and explore its new support hunter and enhancements scheduled for April.
Star Wars: Hunters, like many others before it, is falling victim to the pressures of the modern gaming market, where player retention and monetization create many hurdles. Zynga’s experiences underline the volatile nature of interactive entertainment, where success is never guaranteed, and the gaming community is always eager for innovative titles, but sometimes discovery doesn’t lead to long-lasting engagement.
It's evident the Star Wars universe retains massive potential, but the execution and delivery of these games are what truly matter to players, ensuring they remain engaged and invested as they wield lightsabers and employ various characters within this iconic series. Players are encouraged to stay tuned as they await the final chapter of Star Wars: Hunters, which is already on the verge of disappearing from the gaming world, joining the ranks of those games gone too soon.
