Tactical digital card game Shadowverse announces shutdown in June, ahead of the game’s 10th anniversary.
Shadowverse Ends Service After 10 Years
The Legacy Lives On
Strategic multiplayer digital card game Shadowverse confirms that it will cease service in three months' time, shutting down servers on June 30th, 2026, at 7 PM PT / 4 PM ET. The news was announced on their social media channels as well as the official website, with no exact reason given.
"The time has come for us to announce that we will be ending service for Shadowverse at 7:00 p.m., June 30, 2026 (PT). All of us on the Shadowverse Team would like to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has supported us throughout the years." the post reads.
The team then looks back on the game’s history from its beginning as a Rage of Bahamut spin-off to growing into something "far beyond its origins". Over its decade-long run, the game amassed 5000 cards across 32 card sets, various collaborations and partnerships, 20 story chapters, large-scale tournaments such as the World Grand Prix, and even spin-offs such as a physical trading card game, a Nintendo Switch video game, and an animated series.
While the classic Shadowverse game is shuttering, its direct successor, Shadowverse: Worlds Beyond (SVWB), and the physical trading card game, Shadowverse: Evolve, will continue to operate. Classic Shadowverse accounts can also be linked to SVWB, until its end of service date.
In line with the upcoming shutdown, Shadowverse also announced its planned schedule for the remainder of its service. Starting its maintenance today on March 24th, additional Crystals, as well as the "Leader Card in Three!" card pack bundles, will no longer be available for purchase. However, Crystals acquired prior to the maintenance can still freely be used.
Players will also be treated to a free Premium Pass as the Crystals used to purchase them will not be available anymore. Then, at the end of every month until May (March 31, April 30, May 31), the Throwback Rotation card pool will reset.
Other events may be announced later on as the game leads up to its shutdown.
Fans Lament on Social Media
The news comes as a shock, especially on the game’s tenth anniversary on June 17th. As a beloved game for over a decade, fans have turned to social media such as X/Twitter and Reddit to air out their concerns and worries. Most have urged developer Cygames to allow for an offline server or a type of offline preservation to keep the story modes playable, while other longtime players have shared that while disappointed, they already expected this eventual outcome.
With Cygames’ focus on SVWB and its other IPs such as Umamusume: Pretty Derby, support for the classic Shadowverse has waned. Its last expansion, Heroes of Shadowverse, was released back in early 2024. Since then, it’s only received balance patches and reruns of previously released content.
Nevertheless, players have shared their unforgettable moments with the game, such as "fondly remembering the story mode and the multiplayer", as well as saying that Shadowverse will always "hold a special place" in their hearts.
Source:
Shadowverse Classic Official X/Twitter
Shadowverse Official End of Service Announcement
End of Service Schedule
