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Spectre Divide, the tactical shooter developed by Mountaintop Studios and popularized by gamer icon Shroud, is set to go offline just six months after its official launch. This decision comes as player engagement has significantly dwindled, impacting the sustainability of the game and its development team.
Launched on September 3, 2024, Spectre Divide introduced a unique dual-character control mechanic that initially attracted a large player base. However, despite a robust start with tens of thousands of players, the game faced long-term retention challenges, leading to a sharp decline in player numbers.
Following its first major seasonal update, the anticipated resurgence of players did not materialize. Consequently, Mountaintop Studios announced the decision to halt both the game and the studio’s future projects. This announcement came as Shroud, who had been a major supporter of the game’s launch, began to distance himself from it as its viability waned.
Shroud’s FPS Spectre Divide is going offline
On March 12, 2025, it was officially revealed that Spectre Divide would be taken offline due to unsatisfactory performance post-launch. According to Nate Mitchell, co-founder and CEO of Mountaintop Studios, the game’s first season did not reach the necessary success to maintain operations.
Although the game initially attracted around 400,000 players, peaking at 10,000 concurrent users, these numbers proved insufficient for long-term sustainability. Mitchell cited a lack of sufficient active players and revenue, stating, “We haven’t seen enough active players and incoming revenue to cover the day-to-day costs of Spectre and the studio.”
As a result, the studio announced it would close for good, marking the end of its ambitions in the gaming industry. Despite efforts to secure external investment and partnerships, no solutions materialized due to the current challenges faced by game developers.
Spectre Divide is expected to cease operations within the next month, with assurances that any purchases made since the launch of Season 1 will be refunded to players. Reflecting on the venture, Mitchell noted, “All of us knew from the beginning that the odds were against us, but that’s what we signed up for. It was never a surefire bet.”
This situation resonates with a broader trend in the gaming industry, where numerous live-service titles have struggled. High-profile failures, such as PlayStation’s Concord and Ubisoft’s XDefiant, underline the difficulties faced by new entrants in a competitive market.
As of now, Shroud has not commented further on the closure of Spectre Divide, but it is evident that the game’s decline has led him to gradually step back as challenges surrounding the development team arose. From layoffs to issues regarding monetization, the situation highlights the precarious nature of the gaming industry today.
Source
www.dexerto.com