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. If you've made recent purchases, you can request refunds until May 30th, though this may not be possible if you've already used the items or due to other store policies.
Originally launched in Japan in 2021 with great success, Gran Saga's global version only debuted in November 2024. Unfortunately, it struggled to maintain its momentum and lasted just six months before the decision to shut down was made. The primary reasons for this closure appear to be financial instability and the challenges of sustaining a service in the highly competitive global market.
The mobile gaming genre is saturated with established titles that have loyal player bases, making it extremely challenging for new games to break through unless they offer something truly innovative. Despite its initial success in Japan, Gran Saga couldn't replicate that success internationally, leading to its early exit.
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's 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 spent time in Ethprozen, this farewell is undoubtedly tough, but it's becoming increasingly common in the mobile gaming scene. If you're looking for a new game to play, check out our list of the best MMOs to play on Android right now to find a suitable replacement!
