The Biggest Mobile Gaming Disappointments of 2024

Story Highlights

• 2024 saw an alarming increase in mobile game shutdowns.
• A few games failed to meet expectations due to technical issues, poor optimization, or unpolished gameplay, despite initial hype.
• The gaming and tech industries faced massive workforce reductions.

Looking towards the year 2024, the mobile gaming world was nothing short of an exhilarating journey. The nature of this ride varies greatly, depending on one’s viewpoint – it could be exciting, tough, or a mix of both. Regardless, it’s astounding to witness the industry’s progress, with certain games truly pushing boundaries and redefining what’s achievable. Yet, it’s crucial to acknowledge the other side of the coin. There were instances where grand expectations were not met, or games that initially sparked enthusiasm didn’t quite live up to them. I refer to these as “disappointments,” which frequently ignite discussions about potential improvements and drive both developers and players to establish new benchmarks. Consequently, when I look back on this year, there are significant “Mobile Gaming Disappointments of 2024” that warrant discussion.

Farewell to Mobile Gaming favorites

As a dedicated games journalist with years of experience under my belt, I can’t help but feel disheartened by the recent trend I’ve noticed in the mobile gaming industry: the frequent shutdowns of popular games. Time and time again, I find myself covering the closure of beloved titles that were once vibrant communities, only to fade away too soon.

In my line of work, we pride ourselves on being at the forefront of game launches, updates, and announcements – but this recurring theme of shutdowns has become an unwelcome routine for us all. It’s almost like a bittersweet dance, celebrating dreams that were cut short before their time.

I must confess, I’ve come to know these closures on a personal level. The passion and effort poured into covering the games we love, only to see them vanish without a trace, leaves an indelible mark. It’s not the kind of busy we aspire for in our field.

Let me rephrase that for you: I touched on this topic during my annual recap, but I’d like to provide a summary of the farewells for the games and studios we lost. The closure rate has escalated, which can be unsettling to ponder. However, it’s the games that have just been launched, such as BATTLE CRUSH, which stopped service mere months after its June 2024 debut, or those that shut down shortly after their release a couple of years ago, that really grab attention. It’s hard to accept and leaves you questioning what might have gone awry.

It’s been reported that Electronic Arts plans to retire several games next year, with estimates suggesting as many as seven. Among these are titles like The Simpsons: Tapped Out and UFC Mobile 2, which haven’t had a complete release yet. Dead By Daylight Mobile, which was recently taken over by NetEase Games, has also announced its closure after just one year. Alchemy Stars, an exciting game that will only be available for three years, is set to shut down early next year as well.

Sony too delivered an underwhelming update, as they’ve decided to close down Neon Koi and Firewalk Studios. What added to the dissatisfaction was that, although mobile gaming is a key focus for their Studio Business, the company admitted that their mobile initiatives are currently in their infancy stages. Similarly, Perfect World, famous for popular games like Persona 5: The Phantom X and One Punch Man: World, has experienced a wave of layoffs. Notably, both the CEO and co-CEO stepped down from their positions during this time.

There are additional ones in this part, however I prefer to focus on these. Shutting down a game is always difficult for both developers and players. Although there might be multiple factors leading to such decisions, it’s evident that the current market, with numerous games being released, poses a significant challenge for the industry to maintain its creative scope.

Mobile games in a nutshell: More bad, less good

I don’t have an exact number, but one thing’s for sure: so many games are coming out every day. If the app stores could speak, they’d probably be overwhelmed by it all. Every time you check, there’s a new game, many of them just copying the same ideas or following trends. The same “money-making” genres are getting launched and it is the same old copy-pasta of titles.

It’s wonderful to have numerous games at our disposal, but what sets these apart from the rest? It’s much like searching for that unique treasure amidst a mountain of items. Repeating the 100th clone of Clash Royale doesn’t appeal to us, and the answer is always no. For each exceptional game, there are countless others that fail to leave an impression. At present, it seems quantity reigns supreme over quality, and this repetition is becoming a bit monotonous.

Currently, there seems to be an emphasis on producing high volumes of content, often at the expense of quality. Frankly, this repetition is becoming tiresome for us. We yearn for originality, something fresh that will captivate our attention and elicit the response, “Wow, this is unique!” Instead, we’re met with rehashed ideas, making the experience more laborious than enjoyable. It’s not just a demand from the players, but the industry as a whole needs to shift gears in this direction.

Dreams left in the dark: Games that never saw a full launch

It turns out that this part wasn’t meant to be included initially, but surprisingly, this year has brought more shutdown announcements than expected, even before many of us had a chance to play the game.

One significant event this year was the closure of the popular strategy board game, Clash Mini. In an official statement, developers Supercell declared that further development on the game would cease and servers would shut down in April 2024, leaving many players dismayed. This revelation caused quite a stir within the gaming community, particularly among dedicated fans who had grown fond of the game. The news ignited a wave of strong reactions from players, yet Supercell remained firm in their choice. However, they didn’t keep the disappointed fans waiting for long as they soon unveiled new plans to keep them engaged.

In line with their broader vision for the future, they announced intentions to expand Clash Royale into a more comprehensive strategy game platform, with Clash Mini set for a comeback as a game mode in June 2025. Although this means that Clash Mini will no longer exist independently, its essence may persist in some form, though the specifics are yet to be determined. Personally, I feel that Clash Mini would have benefited from continued existence as a standalone title.

As a gamer, I can’t help but reminisce about my excitement for Operation Apocalypse from NetEase Games. The anticipation was palpable when Hyper Front, with its revamped appearance and enhanced visuals, was announced. Unfortunately, what was supposed to be a thrilling global gaming experience turned into nothing more than a fleeting memory. Just like Clash Mini, it seemed like Operation Apocalypse was nothing but a tease for most of us. To add salt to the wound, developers decided to scrap the game entirely, leaving only players in China with the chance to play it.

NCSOFT’s Project M was among the games that didn’t make it to release before it could fully blossom. Similarly, Risk of Rain: Hostile Worlds was another title that never saw the light of day, despite its promising potential. Lack of access and a gacha system that fell short of inspiration were rumored to be the reasons for its cancellation, but the exact details remain unclear. Despite its engaging mission-based runs and enjoyable core gameplay, it unfortunately didn’t leave a lasting impact on gamers.

To our esteemed developers: If you happen to be browsing through here, how about considering a novel approach for those incomplete or uncertain projects? Instead of abandoning them, why not present them to us for exploration by the worldwide community? We will examine, assess, and who knows, we might just find ourselves captivated. At the minimum, we’ll have an enjoyable experience trying it out, which is more entertaining than not participating in the game entirely.

When the hype didn’t deliver

Imagine anticipating a movie or item you can’t wait to purchase, expecting an amazing experience. However, when it finally arrives, it turns out to be such a letdown that discussing it feels pointless. This scenario is similar to the gaming world, where with numerous new releases each month, it’s inevitable that some of them will disappoint us.

Miraibo GO, initially hyped as a potential revolution in mobile gaming, unfortunately failed to deliver on its promises. Boasting features reminiscent of Palworld and an open-world survival experience, it seemed destined for success. However, barely a month after launch, players received a shutdown notice due to copyright issues with Nintendo. After giving the game a try, I found several aspects felt rough around the edges, from awkward controls to underwhelming graphics. Regrettably, the experience fell short of the excitement it promised, leaving players disappointed.

Some games, even those with well-known intellectual properties, have struggled to gain traction and ended up being underperformers, one example being Age of Empires Mobile. Despite the game’s strong brand, it fell short of delivering the excitement players anticipated. Beyond its appearance, numerous aspects went awry – from dull gameplay to mechanics that no longer held interest. The result was a letdown as it lacked the enjoyment and depth fans craved, feeling lifeless in comparison to its PC version.

As a passionate gamer, I can’t help but express my disappointment with the launch of Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile by Activision on March 21, 2024. The rollout was more of a circus than a celebration, as the game quickly became notorious for all the wrong reasons. Instead of showcasing gameplay highlights, it’s been overshadowed by a torrent of complaints on social media platforms.

From day one, early adopters reported numerous bugs, with the majority of issues focusing on poor graphics and optimization. The visuals were so flawed that even the Arena Breakout competition felt compelled to poke fun at Warzone Mobile’s subpar optimization. Matters escalated to a point where the development team had to release day one patch fixes, and they’re still working hard to get it right. Frankly, the game’s performance thus far is far from what we’ve come to expect from Activision.

A disappointing final game was Indus Battle Royale Mobile. If “all promise, no delivery” had a synonym, this would be it. While it did offer a unique gaming style, other aspects of the game failed to deliver. The graphics and visuals were lackluster, the character models and environment designs were not as impressive as shown in the trailer, and unfortunately, many promised features didn’t make it into the final product. To add to its woes, the game struggled with optimization issues, further deteriorating the gaming experience.

The developers not only released a lackluster game but also took copyright action against creators who wrote honest yet unfavorable reviews, which further fueled criticism. To make things worse, the developers, known as SuperGaming, filed an FIR against a YouTuber due to abusive content, causing even more uproar around an already problematic launch. If there were Game Golden Raspberry Awards, Indus Battle Royale Mobile would likely have been nominated for one. However, we’re still hopeful for some good updates in the future.

The workforce crunch in the industry

Won’t be sugarcoating this section. 2024 was another tough year for layoffs, with a significant number of people losing their jobs. Just like 2023, which was a disappointing year for layoffs, it turned out to be a disappointing year in this regard. I dedicated an entire article to this, covering layoffs across the gaming industry, not just mobile gaming. Each month brought more news of job cuts, and by the end, it became an exhausting trend to keep up with.

2021 witnessed significant tech and gaming corporations taking challenging personnel actions. For example, Microsoft trimmed approximately 10,000 roles across multiple sectors, including gaming, as part of an extensive restructuring plan. Similarly, Unity encountered difficulties, announcing two layoff rounds that impacted over 1,000 workers. Even Sony, known for its stability, had to dismiss over 800 employees while streamlining certain business areas to adjust to a rapidly changing market.

The tech industry in general, and not just gaming, has faced a particularly challenging period this year, with massive job losses occurring consistently. Facebook’s parent company, Meta, has continued its cost-cutting efforts by eliminating over 20,000 roles across different sectors. Google has also been affected by regular layoffs. Companies like Playtika, Twitch, Discord, and others have experienced similar workforce reductions as well.

Looking forward to 2025

As the year comes to a close, it’s best to leave the negatives behind. Whatever challenges we faced this year should stay in the past. Let’s step into 2025 with a fresh mindset, ready for growth and positive changes. The coming year holds great potential for progress, especially in the industry, and just like I mentioned in my year in review, it’s bound to be a promising one. Happy New Year!

Read More

• PHA PREDICTION. PHA cryptocurrency
• DYDX PREDICTION. DYDX cryptocurrency
• BTC PREDICTION. BTC cryptocurrency
• CHR PREDICTION. CHR cryptocurrency
• COW PREDICTION. COW cryptocurrency
• CELR PREDICTION. CELR cryptocurrency
• CTC PREDICTION. CTC cryptocurrency
• ASTR PREDICTION. ASTR cryptocurrency
• TROY PREDICTION. TROY cryptocurrency
• ALPH PREDICTION. ALPH cryptocurrency

2024-12-30 19:13