Spectre Divide FPS Server Shuts Down After Six Months

Just six months after its launch, the tactical FPS game Spectre Divide and its developer, Mountaintop Studios, are shutting down. The game, unfortunately, failed to meet the company's financial expectations, ultimately leading to this difficult decision. Let's delve into the details of Mountaintop Studios' CEO's statement and the reasons behind the closure.

Spectre Divide to Go Offline in 30 Days

Season 1 and Console Launch Fall Short of Expectations

Mountaintop Studios announced the closure of Spectre Divide via its official Twitter (X) account on March 13th. CEO Nate Mitchell explained that despite initial optimism—boasting over 400,000 players and a peak concurrent player count of around 10,000 in its first week—the game's Season 1 launch and console release didn't generate the sustained player base and revenue needed for continued operation. Mitchell stated, "It’s been two weeks since we launched Spectre Divide Season 1: Flashpoint...Unfortunately, the Season 1 launch hasn’t achieved the level of success we needed to sustain the game and keep Mountaintop afloat." The team's efforts to maintain a healthy player count and generate sufficient income ultimately proved insufficient.

As reported by The Verge in December 2024, Mountaintop Studios was already facing significant challenges. The planned console launch and Season 1 were considered a last-ditch effort to revive the game's fortunes. Game Director Lee Horn attributed some of the setbacks to launch-day server issues that hampered initial momentum, despite marketing efforts. Mitchell further elaborated on the decision, highlighting the need to assess the game's viability based on Season 1's performance.

The game is expected to go offline within 30 days, with plans to disable new purchases and refund player spending since the Season 1 relaunch. Further details regarding refunds will be announced shortly.

Spectre Divide's Demise Despite $30 Million in Funding

The closure announcement shocked many, given that Mountaintop Studios secured $30 million in funding last year. The company previously announced on LinkedIn that this significant investment came from prominent investors, including Anthos Capital, RX3 Growth Partners, A16Z GAMES, and several angel investors.

However, even this substantial funding proved insufficient to ensure the game's and the studio's long-term success. Mitchell acknowledged the challenging industry climate, stating, "We pursued every avenue to keep going, including finding a publisher, additional investment, and/or an acquisition. In the end, we weren’t able to make it work. The industry is in a tough spot right now." He expressed the team's ambition to create an innovative and original game but ultimately conceded that the odds were stacked against them from the outset.

Spectre Divide joins a growing list of live-service games that have faced similar challenges, including titles like Multiversus, Babylon's Fall, and Concord, as well as cancelled projects such as The Last of Us Online and a reportedly planned God of War live-service game.

Mountaintop Studios to Close This Week

Mountaintop Studios will cease operations by the end of the week due to depleted funding. Mitchell stated, "Since the PC launch, we stretched our remaining capital as far as we could, but at this point, we’re out of funding to support the game. This means Mountaintop will be closing its doors at the end of this week." This marks a sad end for the studio and its ambitious project.