Girls’ Frontline has just made a major announcement, and it doesn’t bode well for players in Mainland China. Read on to learn more about the developer’s statements.
Girls’ Frontline to Shut Down in China Due to Failed Licensing Negotiations
Girls’ Frontline Devs Mica Team Promise to Bring Game “Back in a New Form”
Girls’ Frontline will be suspending the game’s service in Mainland China by the end of the year, December 31st. Developer MICA Team announced the difficult decision earlier today on BiliBili, citing the expiration of a cooperation agreement with the "the national service partner of Girls Frontline" in the said region, Chengdu Digital Sky Technology Co., Ltd.
According to the developer’s statements on BiliBili, translated by Reddit user u/TerraCeia, while both companies made efforts to renew the agreement, the negotiations ultimately hit a stalemate due to disagreements on "key terms" within the contract. This deadlock, coupled with "license-related" reasons tied to the agreement, means that operations will cease in China after eight long years of service on the region.
It seems as though that the shutdown process has already begun, with download links removed and new user registration closed as of October 31, 2024. Current players will have until November 30 to make in-game purchases, while Girls’ Frontline officially ends service at 10:00 A.M. on December 31. After that, servers will go offline in the aforementioned region, and Commanders will be left with cherished memories and no way to re-enter the battlefield with their favorite T-Dolls, the game’s personified weapon characters who have developed loyal fan bases of their own.
For those concerned about their virtual assets and data, the developers have promised a "compensation plan," which fans hope might involve transferring paid gems to equivalent materials in Girls’ Frontline 2: Exilium, the upcoming sequel to the original game. The company has also assured players that personal data will be handled in compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
The developers understand this news is a major blow to the loyal Commanders in China who have supported Girls’ Frontline, as it is also a "significant regret" for them. "As our first mobile game, ‘Girls Frontline’ represents Mica Team’s longest standing dream and the most profound bond we share with Commanders," the developers said. "We remember the years spent together—the Commanders who traveled far to attend the Girls' Frontline Carnival, the dreamlike scenes at the music concert… It all feels like yesterday. Words cannot express our deep affection for this work."
Since the game’s suspension of service in China is primarily due to licensing disputes, it appears that this is merely a "temporary farewell." The developers have announced their plans to revive the game in "another form." They even intend to allow players to transfer their progress from the Chinese version to this new iteration. This has led fans to jokingly remark that even in the face of closure, Girls’ Frontline seems to defy death, contrasting with the numerous live-service games that have permanently shut down
Many hope that this could mean that the game will have an offline version, considering that the game’s main story was nearing its end. As to what this new iteration will look like, fans would simply have to wait and see. For now, fans in Mainland China are left with a bittersweet message from MICA Team: "Forge ahead in the brave new world! May our reunion come soon."
Source:
Reddit User u/TerraCeia’s Translation of the Announcement
Twitter User @YZsFerrari’s Breakdown of the Announcement
