Sonic Runners was released last year and has enjoyed success as a fun endless running side-scroller game. Yesterday, SEGA released a statement announcing that Sonic Runners would be closing its servers on July 27th.
The full press release can be seen below:
NOTIFICATION OF CLOSURE OF SERVICE
Thank you for your continued support of SONIC RUNNERS.
Since launch, the Sonic Runners Team has done its best to provide our users with the most
enjoyable play experience possible. It is with great regret that we announce the closure of Sonic Runners, effective from the dates below.
We would like express out most sincere thanks to all our users for their patronage and support.
The Sonic Runners team hopes that you enjoyed the journey as much as we did.CLOSURE SCHEDULE
5/27, 9AM (UTC): Red Star Ring sales end.
7/27, 9AM (UTC): Closure of service.Any Red Star Rings purchased prior to 5/27, 9AM (UTC) will not be useable or redeemable after closure of service so please use all Red Star Rings by 7/27, 9AM (UTC).
Thank you for playing SONIC RUNNERS.
Considering the success that Sonic Runners has had, it’s strange and unfortunate to hear that the game’s servers will be closing down in two months. What did you think of Sonic Runners? Sound off in the comments below!
Via SEGA PR
This is another example why investing considerable time and money in mobile games as a service is a bad idea. It never ends well for consumers.
Yeah, and SEGA has too many of them before : Rhythm Thief & Paris Caper, Puzzle & Glory, Cranky Food Friend, Sonic Runners, and also the latest one : Chaos Dragon.
http://senpaigamer.com/android/chaos-dragon-konton-senso-service-ends-july-27-1300-05262016-0940
They’ve been kicking their mobile games to the curb back-to-back lately, but I’m still bummed out this was their solution for Sonic Runners instead of rolling it back. They had something beautiful going on during the soft launch, and surely all the articles to the effect of “this game used to be great” would’ve given them the hint! Then again, more beloved mobile games of theirs have gotten the axe, so who knows.
Even several paid, non-F2P games like Drakerider, sadly.