NPIXEL has officially announced the closure of Gran Saga, marking the end of its brief international journey. The game's services will cease on April 30th, 2025, and in-app purchases (IAPs) along with downloads have already been disabled.
Originally launched in Japan in 2021 with significant success, Gran Saga's global version was released in November 2024. Unfortunately, it only managed to last six months before the decision to shut down was made.
The primary reason for the closure appears to be financial instability and the challenge of sustaining a viable service. Despite an impressive start, Gran Saga struggled to establish itself in the fiercely competitive global market.
The genre is dominated by well-established games with loyal player bases, making it extremely challenging for newcomers to succeed without offering something revolutionary. Although Gran Saga enjoyed early success in Japan, this momentum did not translate internationally, resulting in its premature closure.
This closure is part of a broader trend of gacha RPGs shutting down. Just last month, I reported on the closure of My Hero Academia: The Strongest Hero, and it was not the only one. Several other games have also succumbed to the pressures of an oversaturated market. With so many options available, players tend to stick with familiar titles, making it difficult for new or niche games to survive in the long run.
For those who have made recent purchases and are seeking refunds, you have until May 30th to submit a request. However, refunds may not be possible if you have already used your purchases or due to other store policies.
If you were a player in Ethprozen, this farewell is undoubtedly tough, but it's becoming increasingly common in the mobile gaming industry.
For those looking for a new game to play, you can explore our list of the best MMOs to play on Android right now to find a suitable replacement!