Editing Online game (section)

==Shutdown of games==
The [[video game industry]] is highly competitive. As a result, many online games end up not generating enough profits, such that the service providers do not have the incentives to continue running the [[Server (computing)|servers]]. In such cases, the developers of a game might decide to shut down the server permanently.

Shutting down an online game can severely impact the players. Typically, a server shutdown means players will no longer be able to play the game. For many players, this can cause a sense of loss at an emotional level, since they often dedicate time and effort to making in-game progress, e.g., completing in-game tasks to earn [[Item (game terminology)|items]] for their characters. In some other cases, the game might still be playable without the server, but certain important functionalities will be lost. For example, earning key in-game items often requires a server that can track each player's progress.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2022-04-26|title=Ubisoft has officially shut down online services for over 90 games|url=https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/ubisoft-has-officially-shut-down-online-services-for-over-90-games/|access-date=2023-02-17|website=VGC|language=en-GB|archive-date=June 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220625061623/https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/ubisoft-has-officially-shut-down-online-services-for-over-90-games/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In some cases, an online game may be relaunched in a substantially different form after shutting down, in an attempt to increase the game's quality, remedy low sales, or reverse a declining player base, and see significantly greater success. [[Final Fantasy XIV (2010 video game)|''Final Fantasy XIV'']] was negatively received upon its 2010 release, and relaunched as ''[[Final Fantasy XIV|A Realm Reborn]]'' in 2013 - the new version was met with considerable positive reception, and is still running as of 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|author1=Leon Hurley|date=2015-04-16|title=7 online worlds that ended while people were still playing|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/7-games-shut-down-while-people-were-still-playing/|access-date=2023-02-17|website=gamesradar|language=en|archive-date=February 17, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230217104150/https://www.gamesradar.com/7-games-shut-down-while-people-were-still-playing/|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Splitgate: Arena Warfare'' relaunched as ''[[Splitgate]]'' in 2021, switching to a [[free-to-play]] model and adding cross-platform multiplayer, and subsequently saw 2 million new players, with the servers being unable to handle the influx.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 26, 2021 |title=Splitgate won't launch into 1.0 until August as 1047 Games deals with servers |url=https://venturebeat.com/2021/07/26/splitgate-wont-launch-into-1-0-until-august-as-1047-games-deals-with-servers/ |access-date=June 30, 2022 |website=VentureBeat |language=en-US |archive-date=June 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630060823/https://venturebeat.com/2021/07/26/splitgate-wont-launch-into-1-0-until-august-as-1047-games-deals-with-servers/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

However, games may remain a [[commercial failure]] despite a planned relaunch. These include the 2015 asymmetrical [[first-person shooter]] ''[[Evolve (video game)|Evolve]]'', which transitioned to a free-to-play title known as ''Evolve Stage 2'' a year after launch, after it was criticized for its significant amount of [[Downloadable content|DLC]] despite being a full-priced game, but had its servers permanently shut down roughly two years later after its user base "evaporated" as a result of infrequent updates.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wood |first=Austin |date=June 5, 2018 |title=Evolve dev says '4v1 caused more problems than we ever imagined' |language=en |work=[[PC Gamer]] |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/evolve-dev-says-4v1-caused-more-problems-than-we-ever-imagined/ |access-date=June 28, 2022 |archive-date=June 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220628091228/https://www.pcgamer.com/evolve-dev-says-4v1-caused-more-problems-than-we-ever-imagined/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The 2019 looter-shooter ''[[Anthem (video game)|Anthem]]'' was also planned to be relaunched as ''Anthem Next'', but the changes were never implemented, partially due to the [[Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the video game industry|impact of the COVID-19 pandemic]] and an unwillingness to further invest in the game by ''[[Electronic Arts]]''.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Juba |first=Joe |date=February 24, 2021 |title=Anthem 2.0 Canceled By BioWare |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/2021/02/24/anthem-20-canceled-by-bioware |archive-url=https://archive.today/20221024011747/https://www.gameinformer.com/2021/02/24/anthem-20-canceled-by-bioware |url-status=live |archive-date=October 24, 2022 |access-date=June 28, 2022 |magazine=[[Game Informer]] |language=en}}</ref>