Forgotten Runiverse, a free-to-play role-playing game built on the Ethereum scaling network Ronin, is ceasing server operations indefinitely. This decision highlights the ongoing difficulties faced by blockchain gaming projects in maintaining viability in a competitive market.
The development team behind Forgotten Runiverse cited “financial infeasibility” as the primary reason for the shutdown. In a statement shared on social media platform X, they acknowledged a series of overwhelming challenges that have hindered the game”s sustainability.
“Over the past months, we”ve faced a number of overwhelming challenges,” the team articulated. “While our team worked tirelessly and was initially able to overcome many of these obstacles, we”ve reached a point where it no longer makes sense financially to maintain the game in a live environment in its current state.”
Launched globally last year, Forgotten Runiverse is part of the broader Forgotten Runes project, which draws its lore from an NFT collection known as Forgotten Runes Wizard”s Cult. The game had previously conducted a stress test designed to evaluate its capacity by encouraging users to attempt to “crash its servers.” However, less than a year post-launch, the MMORPG will go offline.
The team reassured players that all account and progress data would be securely preserved, although the game will be temporarily inaccessible as they consider potential future directions. “We will share updates if/when we have them,” they stated. “The Runiverse isn”t gone, merely resting.”
The closure of Forgotten Runiverse is part of a broader trend impacting the crypto gaming sector, where numerous titles have been compelled to shut down due to insufficient funding or player engagement. Last year witnessed the termination of several notable blockchain games, including Deadrop, Nyan Heroes, and Pirate Nation, and this trend appears to persist into 2026.
Responses from the gaming community have been mixed, with some expressing disappointment while others commended the development team for their dedication. Forgotten Runiverse had previously garnered financial backing from notable figures, including Alexis Ohanian, and had ambitions for cross-platform development across major consoles like Nintendo, PlayStation, and Xbox.
As the landscape of crypto gaming continues to evolve, the industry remains alert to the challenges of securing funding and attracting players, emphasizing the need for innovation and sustainability in this rapidly changing environment.
