Spectre Divide, the FPS Shroud Supported, Shuts Down After 6 Months Since Launch

After just six months, Spectre Divide, the tactical FPS backed by Shroud, is shutting down. Mountaintop Studios, the game's developer, announced the closure due to the game failing to meet financial expectations. Read on for details on the CEO's statement and the reasons behind this unexpected closure.

Spectre Divide to Go Offline in 30 Days

Season 1 and Console Launch Fall Short of Expectations

Mountaintop Studios' CEO, Nate Mitchell, revealed that the game's first season, "Flashpoint," and its console launch, failed to achieve the necessary success to sustain both the game and the studio. While initially promising, with over 400,000 players and a peak concurrent player count of 10,000 across platforms, sustained player engagement and revenue proved insufficient to maintain operations.

Mitchell stated, "It’s been two weeks since we launched Spectre Divide Season 1: Flashpoint. We’re incredibly grateful for the support shown, but the launch hasn’t achieved the success needed to keep the game and Mountaintop afloat." He further explained that despite initial optimism and marketing efforts, including addressing reported server issues at launch, the game's performance ultimately fell short of projections. The team had previously acknowledged the risk, stating that if Season 1 didn't perform well, a hard look at the game's future would be necessary.

The game is expected to go offline within 30 days, with new purchases being disabled and refunds issued for purchases made since the Season 1 relaunch. Further details regarding refunds will be announced soon.

$30 Million Funding Couldn't Save Spectre Divide

The closure comes as a surprise, considering Mountaintop Studios secured $30 million in funding last year from prominent investors including Anthos Capital, RX3 Growth Partners, A16Z GAMES, and angel investors. Despite this significant investment, the funds proved insufficient to ensure the game's long-term viability.

Mitchell explained, "We pursued every avenue—finding a publisher, additional investment, and acquisition—but couldn't make it work. The industry is in a tough spot right now." He added, "We aimed for innovation in a crowded genre, creating a fresh art style and partnering with heroes in the industry. We knew the odds were against us, but we pursued it anyway. It wasn't a sure thing."

Spectre Divide joins a growing list of live-service games that have struggled to find success, highlighting the challenges inherent in this business model. Games like Multiversus, Babylon's Fall, and Concord, along with cancelled projects such as The Last of Us Online and a reported God of War live-service game, underscore the difficulties in this competitive space.

Mountaintop Studios to Close This Week

Mountaintop Studios will cease operations by the end of the week, as the remaining funds are insufficient to sustain the studio. Mitchell stated, "Since the PC launch, we stretched our capital as far as we could, but we’re out of funding to support the game. This means Mountaintop will be closing its doors at the end of this week."