The popular mobile beat 'em up ARPG, King of Fighters ALLSTAR, is shutting down on October 30th, 2024. Netmarble, the developer, announced the closure on their official forums, stating that in-app purchases have already been disabled.
This news is surprising, given the game's six-year run and numerous high-profile collaborations with other fighting game franchises. The developer's announcement hints that a contributing factor to the closure may be the depletion of characters from the King of Fighters franchise available for adaptation into the game. While this is likely not the sole reason, it provides some context to the decision.
Subscribe to Pocket Gamer on YouTube
What's Next?
The closure of King of Fighters ALLSTAR unfortunately continues a trend of long-running mobile live-service games being discontinued in 2024. This highlights the challenges of maintaining these games and suggests that even successful mobile titles can struggle with long-term profitability.
Looking for a new mobile game? Check out our list of the best mobile games of 2024 (so far)! Alternatively, explore our weekly top five new mobile games list for fresh titles across various genres. You're sure to find something new to enjoy!