10 Game Servers That Are Shutting Down In 2025 (2025)

All things in life must come to an end, but in the realm of video games, there’s an added layer to this. Many games require a constant online connection and offer no offline mode, meaning that when servers shut down, the game itself becomes unplayable. Games are often shut down to make way for newer entries in a series, while others end due to low player counts or the closure of the company behind them. EA has announced multiple games set to shut down in 2025, with seven scheduled to close in January alone.

Some of these titles have been around for many years, making their shutdowns more understandable. However, a few have been active for less than 18 months. While some games with planned server shutdowns can still be played in a limited capacity by existing owners, online features will be inaccessible, and no further updates will be provided. This means some bugs may remain unfixed, and in some cases, games will become entirely unplayable.

10 The Simpsons: Tapped Out Was Around for 13 Years

It's Time for the Series Finale of The Simpsons: Tapped Out

• The Simpsons: Tapped Out servers are set to close on January 24, 2025

Petitions have been launched by fans hoping to save The Simpsons: Tapped Out, a hugely popular free-to-play mobile game set in The Simpsons universe that has entertained players for over a decade. The game’s mechanics are simple: players “tap” to expand and build their own version of Springfield, earning rewards and watching over 800 characters from the show perform small animations as the town grows. As of April 2020, The Simpsons: Tapped Out boasted 80 million accounts, cementing its status as one of the most popular mobile games in the world.

The popularity of Tapped Out has left many players confused about why it would be shut down. There are rumors that EA's license for The Simpsons IP could be expiring, which could explain the closure. EA is shutting down more game servers this year than any other company, so it's also possible the company is shifting its strategies. A Change.org petition to save the freemium game has gained over 23,000 signatures from loyal players unwilling to lose a decade or more of progress.

The Simpsons: Tapped Out

In The Simpsons: Tapped Out, players help Homer Simpson rebuild Springfield after he accidentally causes a nuclear meltdown that destroys the town. By collecting characters, completing quests, and constructing buildings, players recreate Springfield with familiar landmarks and iconic locations from the show. The game features humorous dialogue and scenarios written by the show's writers, offering a genuine Simpsons experience.

Action

Strategy

Platform(s)

Android, iOS

Released

February 29, 2012

Developer

EA Mobile, Fox Digital Entertainment, IronMonkey Studios

Publisher

Electronic Arts, EA Mobile, EA Swiss Sarl

ESRB

e

9 WWE 2K23 Is Down for the Three Count

It's Time for Fans of WWE 2K23 to Focus On New WWE Games

• WWE 2K23's servers shut down on shut down on January 6th, 2025

The WWE 2K series was once synonymous with great wrestling games, and while recent entries had their share of issues, 2K23 marked a return to form. The game successfully realized and improved upon many of its earlier ambitions. Its MyGM mode, allowing players to run their own wrestling brand in a manner akin to Football Manager, was the best iteration since SmackDown vs. Raw 2008 featuring ECW. The Career mode addressed some of the series’ clunky writing issues, and the in-ring action was further refined, making gameplay smoother than ever.

John Cena was the cover star of WWE 2K23, and the title even had a dedicated gameplay mode celebrating key moments in his legendary career. This mode let fans relive iconic matches, starting with his debut on SmackDown! in 2002, where he answered Kurt Angle’s open challenge with "ruthless aggression." It included highlights like his clash with Rob Van Dam at One Night Stand 2006, the "Once in a Lifetime" bout against The Rock at WrestleMania 28, and his passing-the-torch match with Roman Reigns at SummerSlam 2021. Despite the game’s acclaim, its servers are set to shut down this year, ending online play. Maybe it's time for something different, like a new Legends of Wrestling game.

WWE 2K23

WWE 2K23features arcade and simulation wrestling gameplay. WarGamesis featured for the first time in a WWE 2K game, and theRoyal Rumble matchnow supports online multiplayer with up to eight players.

Sports

Platform(s)

PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC

Released

March 17, 2023

Developer(s)

Visual Concepts

Publisher(s)

2K

ESRB

T FOR TEEN: BLOOD, LANGUAGE, SUGGESTIVE THEMES, VIOLENCE

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

8 Deer Hunter Classic Is Coming to an End

Hunting Game Fans May Need to Track Down an Alternative to the Deer Hunter Games

• Deer Hunter Classic will shut down on January 29, 2025

Deer Hunter Classic is a highly immersive first-person hunting simulation that creates a full world for players to explore, all from a mobile device. The game features a wide range of locations, including deserts, open plains, and dense jungles, each presenting unique challenges that hunters must adapt to in order to succeed. Players can hunt everything from deer to bears, using a variety of weapons such as rifles, bows, and shotguns, with each weapon better suited to specific prey and environments. Deer Hunter Classic also has social elements and lets players team up and coordinate full hunting missions.

The core gameplay of Deer Hunter Classic revolves around strategy, skill, and planning. Players must account for terrain, choose the right weapon for the task, and adapt to immersive weather conditions and dynamic animal behavior patterns. It really captures the essence of hunting, right down to the high stakes of every shot. This isn't the first game in the Deer Hunter series to be shut down, and with no recent releases, the series appears to be fading away. Fans of the franchise may soon lose a beloved experience that brilliantly captured the art of the hunt.

7 Rory McIlroy PGA Tour Has Reached the Back Nine

Rory McIlroy PGA Tour Is One of the Best-Known Golf Games

Rory McIlroy PGA Tour's servers were shut down on January 16th, 2025Golfers can no longer enjoy the online features of Rory McIlroy PGA Tour, marking the end of an era for this iconic golfing game. Delisted in 2018, the game officially lost its online functionality this year. As a spiritual successor to the Tiger Woods PGA Tour series, it had modern visuals, refined gameplay, and took advantage of the Frostbite 3 engine, which allowed for seamless load times, detailed environments, and smooth animations.

Rory McIlroy PGA Tour featured eight real-life courses, including the iconic St. Andrews in Scotland, and four fantasy locations, one inspired by Battlefield. Everything about the game, from lining up putts to chipping from bunkers, felt polished and satisfying. Career mode let players create their own golfer and aim for greatness, while Night Club Challenge mode offered fun mini-games with unique objectives, like hitting targets and navigating obstacles. Now that Rory McIlroy PGA Tour's online features are gone, fans have lost access to a golf game that was a perfect combination of realism and innovation.

Rory McIlroy PGA Tour

Sports

Platform(s)

PlayStation 4, Xbox One

Released

July 14, 2015

Developer(s)

EA Tiburon

Publisher(s)

EA

ESRB

E For Everyone

OpenCritic Rating

Weak

6 Dungeons & Dragons Dark Alliance Rolled a One

Dungeons & Dragons Dark Alliance Is Ending

• The Dungeons & Dragons Dark Alliance servers will shut down on February 24, 2025

is an action RPG developed and published by Tuque Games and Wizards of the Coast. It was designed to be a spiritual successor to the Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance series and draws from the rich lore of the Dungeons & Dragons universe. Set in the icy tundras of Icewind Dale, Dark Alliance sent players on an epic journey based around teamwork. The cooperative gameplay required the party to strategically combine their strengths to defeat waves of enemies and formidable bosses. The game features four playable characters from R.A. Salvatore’s Legend of Drizzt novels: Drizzt Do’Urden, the iconic elf ranger; Bruenor Battlehammer, the resilient dwarven king; Catti-brie, the skilled human archer; and Wulfgar, the mighty barbarian. Now that Dark Alliance's servers are going offline, players will lose access to the cooperative multiplayer gameplay that made the game shine. For solo players, Dark Alliance is fully playable offline, but the game was designed with co-op in mind.

Dungeons and Dragons: Dark Alliance

Action RPG

Platform(s)

PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S

Released

June 22, 2021

Developer(s)

Tuque Games

Publisher(s)

Wizards of the Coast

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Language, Violence

OpenCritic Rating

Weak

$32 at Amazon

5 UFC 3 Has Finally Gone the Distance

It's Arguable the Best Game In the UFC Franchise

• Servers for UFC 3 will be shutting down on February 17, 2025.

As the third installment in the UFC series, UFC 3 stepped up the quality from previous games to capture the intense action, strategy, and realism of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. It was a major improvement from previous games in the franchise, with better graphics, animations, and gameplay. UFC 3's central innovation was Real Player Motion Tech, a new animation system that added over 5,000 animations to the game.

Beyond the new features, UFC 3 had a solid roster of fighters that included Ronda Rousey and Georges St-Pierre. Another great addition was the G.O.A.T. Career Mode, where players could create a custom fighter and work their way up the ranks. It'll be a shame to see this UFC game get knocked out.

This Elder Scrolls Game Flew Under the Radar

• The Elder Scrolls: Legends servers will shut down on January 30, 2025

The Elder Scrolls: Legends was a free-to-play deck-building card game based on the lore and universe of The Elder Scrolls series that blended strategic gameplay with other iconic elements from the franchise. It was an accessible card game, but it still had plenty of tactical depth. Matches were played between two players who each started with a deck of cards and a set amount of health. Players took turns drawing cards, gaining magicka, and using creatures, spells, or items to defeat their opponent.

Development on The Elder Scrolls: Legends halted in 2019, but the game was still playable. Now that the servers are shutting down, players will be missing out on an overlooked Elder Scrolls that expanded on the series' lore. Maybe the alleged Oblivion remake will help Legends players fill the void the shutdown will be leaving behind.

3 XDefiant Has Had a Short Life

Ubisoft Is Bringing XDefiant to an End

• XDefiant's servers are shutting down on June 3, 2025

XDefiant is a free-to-play arena shooter that offers fast-paced action and faction-based mechanics. It was announced in 2021, released in May 2024, and will shut down in June 2025. The core gameplay revolves around 6v6 multiplayer matches with modes like Domination, Escort, and Zone Control. XDefiant delivered a high-octane experience with tight gunfighting and responsive controls but wasn’t successful enough to stay online.

Ubisoft San Francisco announced that XDefiant failed to reach the levels it had intended, leading to its closure in December 2024, just seven months after its launch. Refunds were issued to players who purchased in-game currency and passes. Despite offering more character and class customization than many other games in the genre, the game struggled to maintain player retention. While Season 3 of XDefiant still launched, new players were no longer able to register.

XDefiant

FPS

Released

May 21, 2024

Developer(s)

Ubisoft San Francisco

Publisher(s)

Ubisoft

ESRB

T For Teen due to Mild Language, Violence

OpenCritic Rating

Fair

2 Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Tempestfall Will Lead Its Last Battle Cry

Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Tempestfall Was a Game With Tons of Potential

• Warhammer: Age of Sigmar's servers will shut down on January 10, 2025

Warhammer video games are at the height of their popularity, with the success of Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 receiving great reviews. This makes the server shutdown of Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Tempestfall surprising to many. Set in the popular Age of Sigmar era, the VR title allowed players to step into the role of a Lord-Arcanum of the Stormcast Eternals, an elite warrior-mage tasked with investigating and eliminating the Necrotic Plague. This mysterious threat corrupted the land and its inhabitants, leading to dangerous undead enemies. The narrative unfolded through cinematic sequences and environmental storytelling.

While this game had the potential to be a classic for VR fans, it is being delisted due to licensing issues. It was a title with stunning visuals and tons of potential, and it's a shame to see it go. Fortunately, players who purchased Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Tempestfall before the servers shut down will still be able to enjoy the game.

1 Hood: Outlaws and Legends Was Fun for Many a Merry Man

Hood: Outlaws and Legends Could Have Been Huge If It Had Found the Right Audience

• Hood: Outlaws and Legends' servers will shut down on February 18, 2025

Hood: Outlaws & Legends takes a unique approach to the Robin Hood legend, placing players in a brutal medieval world rife with corruption. Combining stealth, strategy, and combat, the game pits teams of players against each other and the environment in high-stakes heists. These missions typically involved teams of up to four players infiltrating heavily guarded locations.

Despite the appeal of a multiplayer Robin Hood game, Hood: Outlaws & Legends is set to face the headman's ax and have its server shut down this year. The game's publisher, Focus Entertainment, said that Hood: Outlaws & Legends had poor sales and caused revenue issues for the company. Reports of server issues and balancing problems also led to low player retention rates, which ultimately sealed the game’s fate.