Wargaming’s new live service title, Steel Hunters, will close its servers in October 2025, a mere three months after its launch. This is a surprising turn, given the developer’s reputation for creating long-lasting games, such as World of Tanks and World of Warships. The announcement reveals the challenges even big names face in today’s crowded live-service market.
At launch, Steel Hunters attracted a peak of 4,479 concurrent players according to SteamDB. However, recent numbers have dropped dramatically, with just 97 players at peak in the last 24 hours. Wargaming shared their tough decision on the game’s Steam page:
“Today we share difficult news: we’ve made the decision to sunset Steel Hunters. You’ve given us so much passion and support but unfortunately we’ve come to the conclusion that continuing development is not sustainable. We know this isn’t the news anyone wanted to hear and we genuinely share in your disappointment.”
The shutdown is scheduled to occur in approximately 90 days, around October 8th. To mark the end, Wargaming will host a farewell tournament, with details to come. It’s a sad moment for fans who might have hoped the game would grow over time.
Live-service games have been struggling lately, with many shutting down due to low player counts and poor returns. The market feels oversaturated. Players tend to stick with established giants like Fortnite, leaving little room for new titles to gain traction.
Wargaming’s attempt to branch into a fictional universe with Steel Hunters didn’t catch on as hoped, despite plans for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S|X versions. It makes you wonder: what’s left for live-service games trying to break through?
