Spectre Divide, the FPS Shroud Supported, Shuts Down After 6 Months Since Launch

Just six months after its launch, the tactical FPS game Spectre Divide and its developer, Mountaintop Studios, are shutting down. The game 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's Demise: A 30-Day Countdown

Season 1 and Console Launch Fall Short of Expectations

Mountaintop Studios announced on March 13th via Spectre Divide's official Twitter (X) account that the game would be shutting down. CEO Nate Mitchell explained that the Season 1 launch, including the console release, fell significantly short of the success needed to sustain the game and the studio.

While the initial week showed promise with over 400,000 players and a peak concurrent player count of around 10,000, sustained player engagement and revenue proved insufficient to cover the ongoing operational costs. This follows previous reports from The Verge in December 2024 highlighting the studio's financial struggles and indicating that the Season 1 launch and console release were crucial for the game's survival. Game Director Lee Horn attributed some of the shortfall to server issues impacting the launch momentum, despite marketing efforts. Mitchell himself stated that the lack of engagement with Season 1 necessitated a hard look at the game's future.

The game is expected to go offline within 30 days, with plans to disable new purchases and issue refunds for purchases made since the Season 1 relaunch. Further details on the refund process are promised soon.

A $30 Million Investment Wasn't Enough

The closure comes as a surprise to many, considering Mountaintop Studios secured $30 million in funding last year. This investment, announced on their LinkedIn account in 2024, came from prominent investors including Anthos Capital, RX3 Growth Partners, A16Z GAMES, and several angel investors. Despite this substantial investment, the funds proved insufficient to ensure the long-term viability of Spectre Divide and Mountaintop Studios.

Mitchell acknowledged the challenging state of the industry, explaining that despite exploring options like securing a publisher, additional investment, or acquisition, they were ultimately unable to secure the necessary resources. He emphasized the team's ambition to create an innovative and original experience in a competitive market, but ultimately, the risks inherent in such an endeavor proved insurmountable.

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 rumored God of War live-service game.

Mountaintop Studios to Close This Week

Following the announcement regarding Spectre Divide, Mitchell revealed that Mountaintop Studios itself will be closing its doors by the end of the week. The depletion of funding leaves the studio with no viable option but to cease operations. This marks a sad end for a team that clearly poured significant effort into creating Spectre Divide.