After just six months, Spectre Divide, the FPS game backed by Shroud, is shutting down. Mountaintop Studios, the developer, announced the closure due to the game failing to meet financial expectations. Let's delve into the details of the CEO's statement and the reasons behind this unfortunate decision.
Spectre Divide to Go Offline in 30 Days
Season 1 and Console Launch Fall Short of Expectations
Tactical FPS Spectre Divide is ceasing operations six months post-launch. The game's first season and console release didn't achieve the necessary success to sustain the game and studio. Mountaintop Studios CEO, Nate Mitchell, explained in a March 13th announcement on the official Twitter (X) account: "It’s been two weeks since we launched Spectre Divide Season 1: Flashpoint. While we're incredibly grateful for the positive feedback and support, the launch hasn't met the success needed to keep the game and Mountaintop afloat."
Initial excitement saw over 400,000 players and a peak concurrent player count of around 10,000 across platforms. However, sustained player engagement and revenue proved insufficient for ongoing operations.
As reported by The Verge in December 2024, Mountaintop Studios faced significant challenges. The console launch and Season 1 were considered a final attempt to revitalize the game. Game Director Lee Horn attributed some of the setbacks to server issues impacting launch momentum, despite marketing efforts. Mitchell further elaborated, highlighting the need to assess the game's trajectory based on Season 1 performance.
The game is expected to go offline within 30 days. New purchases will be disabled, and refunds will be issued for purchases made since the Season 1 relaunch. Further details on this process will be announced soon.
Spectre Divide's Demise Despite $30 Million in Funding
The closure is surprising, given Mountaintop Studios secured $30 million in funding last year. The company previously announced on LinkedIn that this funding came from prominent investors including Anthos Capital, RX3 Growth Partners, A16Z GAMES, and angel investors.
Despite this significant investment, the game and studio failed to achieve profitability. Mitchell stated, "We explored every avenue – seeking a publisher, additional investment, or acquisition – but ultimately, we couldn't make it work. The industry is currently facing significant challenges."
He added, "Our goal was to create something innovative and original in a competitive genre. We took risks, creating a unique art style and universe, and partnered with prominent figures. We knew the odds were long, but we pursued it anyway. It wasn't a guaranteed success."
Spectre Divide joins a growing list of live-service games that have faltered. Titles like Multiversus, Babylon’s Fall, and Concord, along with cancelled projects like The Last of Us Online and a reported God of War live-service game, highlight the difficulties in this business model.
Mountaintop Studios to Close This Week
Mitchell announced that Mountaintop Studios will close by the end of the week, due to insufficient remaining funds to support ongoing operations. He stated, "Since the PC launch, we've stretched our resources as far as possible, but we’ve run out of funding to support the game. This means Mountaintop will be closing its doors at the end of this week."
