NPIXEL has officially announced the closure of Gran Saga, bringing its brief international journey to an end. The game will cease operations on April 30th, 2025. In preparation for the shutdown, in-app purchases (IAPs) and new downloads have already been disabled. If you've made recent purchases, you can request refunds until May 30th, although certain conditions may apply based on usage and store policies.
Originally launched in Japan in 2021 with great success, Gran Saga's global version was released in November 2024 but only managed to last six months before the decision to close was made. The primary reasons for this closure appear to be financial instability and challenges in maintaining a sustainable service. Despite its initial appeal, Gran Saga struggled to carve out a niche in the fiercely competitive global market.
The genre is saturated with well-established games that have loyal player bases, making it extremely challenging for newcomers to gain traction without offering something revolutionary. Although Gran Saga enjoyed early success in Japan, it failed to replicate that momentum on the international stage, leading to its early demise.
This closure is part of a larger trend of gacha RPGs shutting down. Just last month, I discussed the closure of My Hero Academia: The Strongest Hero, and it's not alone. Several other games have succumbed to the pressures of an oversaturated market. With so many options available, players tend to stick with familiar titles, making it difficult for new or niche games to sustain themselves over time.
For those who spent time in Ethprozen, this farewell is undoubtedly bittersweet, but it reflects an increasingly common occurrence in the mobile gaming landscape. If you're seeking a new game to fill the void left by Gran Saga, be sure to check out our curated list of the best MMOs to play on Android right now.
