Steel Hunters, a mech shooter from Wargaming, is set to shut down just three months after its early access release on April 2. Despite hopes for a Titanfall-like experience, the game failed to gain traction, peaking at only 4,479 concurrent players and gradually declining to a mere 52. Players expressed disappointment over a lack of updates and a clear roadmap, ultimately leading Wargaming to announce the end of support. The servers will remain operational until October 8, 2025, marking another unfortunate event in the live service gaming landscape where many titles struggle to maintain a player base.

Why did Steel Hunters fail to capture an audience?

Steel Hunters struggled to engage players due to a mixed user review rating and a significant drop in concurrent players. Despite its potential, players criticized the lack of updates, bugs, and overall direction, leading to its decision to sunset the game within months of its launch.

Steel Hunters attempted to carve out a niche in the competitive landscape of free-to-play mech shooters but ultimately fell victim to common pitfalls seen in recent live service games. With titles like Sony’s Concord and Microsoft’s unannounced MMORPG facing similar fates, the industry is witnessing a challenging era for online multiplayer experiences. Steel Hunters showcased promising mech designs and interactive maps, yet the nuances of player engagement and sustained development proved to be its downfall.