NPIXEL has officially announced the closure of Gran Saga, marking the end of its brief international journey. The service will cease on April 30th, 2025, and in-app purchases (IAPs) along with downloads have already been disabled.
Originally launched in Japan in 2021 to great acclaim, Gran Saga's global version only debuted in November 2024. Unfortunately, it managed to last just six months before the decision to shut down was made.
The primary reason for the closure appears to be financial instability and the inability to sustain a viable service. Although Gran Saga showed promise at the outset, it struggled to establish a strong presence in the highly competitive global market.
The genre is saturated with well-established games that boast loyal player bases, making it extremely challenging for newcomers to succeed unless they offer something truly innovative. Despite its initial success in Japan, Gran Saga failed to replicate that momentum internationally, resulting in an early shutdown.
This closure is part of a broader trend of gacha RPGs shutting down. Just last month, I discussed the closure of My Hero Academia: The Strongest Hero, and it was not the only one. Many other games have also succumbed to the pressures of an oversaturated market. With so many choices, players tend to stick with familiar titles, making it difficult for new or niche games to survive in the long run.
For those who 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 among the players who explored Ethprozen, this farewell is bittersweet, but it's becoming increasingly common in the mobile gaming landscape.
If you're looking for a new game to play, check out our list of the best MMOs to play on Android right now!
