Less than a year after its global release, Star Wars: Hunters is headed for an early exit. Zynga and NaturalMotion have officially announced that the game’s servers will shut down permanently on October 1, 2025, ending the short-lived run of the 4v4 arena shooter set in the Star Wars universe. Despite a promising launch and high expectations from fans, the title failed to gain the traction needed to sustain long-term support.
Final Update, No More Purchases, One Last Ride
The last content update rolled out on April 15, 2025, introducing a new playable character named Tuya, along with rotating modes and maps to keep the gameplay fresh in the final months. Crucially, Zynga also disabled all in-game purchases as of that update, shifting the focus to letting players enjoy what’s left of the experience without additional costs.
Season 5, the current active season, has been extended by three extra weeks. This extension, alongside rotating game content, is Zynga’s final gesture to the community—offering a victory lap before the curtain falls.
Abandoned PC Release: Steam Launch Cancelled
Star Wars: Hunters was originally planned to launch on PC via Steam Early Access, with closed beta playtests having taken place in December 2024 and January 2025. A Steam debut was even scheduled for January 27, 2025, but the cancellation of future development halted those plans altogether. The PC version will now never see a public release.
This sudden reversal reflects a larger shift in Zynga’s strategy. As the competitive landscape for free-to-play shooters grows more saturated, even a Star Wars title can struggle without breakout features or an enthusiastic player base.
A Game With Ambition—But Missing Magic
Set after the fall of the Galactic Empire, Star Wars: Hunters introduced players to a brand-new cast of characters, including droids, Wookiees, bounty hunters, and more. Unlike traditional Star Wars games, Hunters didn’t focus on Jedi or Sith—opting instead for a sport-like arena setting that took place on the planet Vespaara. Players engaged in 4v4 multiplayer matches with a MOBA-like structure, competing across arenas loosely inspired by iconic Star Wars locales.
The game was designed to appeal to both casual and competitive players with short, action-packed matches and a wide range of character abilities. Yet, even with polished visuals and familiar branding, it struggled to differentiate itself in a market already crowded with titles like Overwatch, Apex Legends, and Valorant.
Mixed Reception and Community Response
Reception to the game was lukewarm. While some fans appreciated the colorful art direction and fast-paced combat, many criticized the title for lacking depth and ambition. Reviewers noted that Hunters felt like a mobile-first experience at its core, which hurt its chances of being taken seriously on consoles or future PC platforms.
Long matchmaking times, a steep learning curve for newcomers, and limited in-game content were among the most common player complaints. Even loyal Star Wars fans felt the game didn’t fully leverage the lore and storytelling potential of the galaxy far, far away.
Why the Shutdown Matters
The quick demise of Star Wars: Hunters highlights how even big-name IPs can’t guarantee success in today’s gaming industry. While the Star Wars name brings instant recognition, it also carries high expectations—and players are increasingly unwilling to settle for mediocre live service games.
Zynga’s decision to sunset the title may reflect a broader reassessment of its console and PC ambitions. The shutdown also echoes a wider industry trend where service-based games are being retired faster than ever when they fail to hit engagement targets early on.
For players who enjoyed Hunters, these final months will be a chance to revisit their favorite characters and arenas one last time before the servers go dark. And for the gaming community at large, it’s a reminder that not even the Force can save a game without staying power.
Key Takeaways
- Star Wars: Hunters will permanently shut down on October 1, 2025, making the game completely unplayable after that date.
- The final content update will be released on April 15, 2025, and will be free for all players.
- The game’s short lifespan raises questions about the future of similar Star Wars multiplayer games from Lucasfilm Games and their partners.
The End of ‘Star Wars: Hunters’
The free-to-play arena battler from Zynga is coming to a close, with official shutdown plans now confirmed. Players have a limited time to enjoy the game before servers go offline permanently.
Reasons Behind the Shutdown
Zynga and NaturalMotion have announced the permanent shutdown of Star Wars: Hunters on October 1, 2025. The decision comes after evaluating the game’s performance since its release. While specific reasons weren’t detailed, the gaming industry often faces challenges with player retention and profitability for live service games.
The previously planned PC version has been canceled entirely. This suggests the game didn’t meet expected performance metrics across its current platforms.
All in-game purchases have been disabled immediately following the announcement. This prevents new players from investing in content that will become inaccessible once servers shut down.
The development team is preparing a final content update scheduled for April 2025. This update will likely serve as the last hurrah for Hunters players.
Impact on the Gaming Community
The Star Wars: Hunters community has responded with disappointment to the news. Many players invested time mastering characters like J-3DI, Rieve, and other unique Hunters in the arena.
You can still experience all current content until the shutdown date. The game remains fully playable with all features intact until October 2025, giving you over a year to enjoy the arenas of Vespaara.
Some players have expressed hope that Zynga might implement an offline mode, allowing continued play after server closure. However, this seems unlikely based on similar past shutdowns.
The closure highlights ongoing concerns about digital ownership and preservation. Once servers go offline, this unique Star Wars gaming experience will be lost completely.
Aftermath and User Guidance
With Star Wars: Hunters shutting down on October 1, 2025, players need to understand what happens to their data and how to transition to other games. The shutdown affects all platforms including Nintendo Switch.
Handling Personal Data and User Consent
Zynga has outlined specific protocols for handling your personal data after the shutdown. Your game data and purchases will no longer be accessible once servers go offline. According to official announcements, you have the right to request copies of your personal information before the closure.
To manage your data:
- Request your data: Contact Zynga customer support through the game’s help section
- Revoke consent: Update your privacy settings in-game
- Remove payment methods: Delete saved payment information from your account
Cookies and tracking data will be retained according to Zynga’s standard privacy policy, but game-specific information will be deleted from active servers.
Transition for Players
As a Star Wars: Hunters player, you have several options to make the most of your remaining time with the game before it shuts down.
What you can do now:
- Use remaining in-game currency (no refunds will be processed after shutdown)
- Capture screenshots or videos of your gameplay for memories
- Connect with community members on Discord or Reddit to find alternative games
Nintendo Switch players can explore similar multiplayer games like Fortnite or Apex Legends as alternatives. Zynga has not announced any migration benefits or transfer options to their other titles.
The multiplayer servers will remain fully functional until the shutdown date, allowing you to enjoy all game features. Some players have reported the community is already organizing farewell events to celebrate the game’s short lifespan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Players have important questions about the upcoming shutdown of Star Wars: Hunters. Here are answers to the most common concerns about the game’s closure, player impact, and what to expect in the coming months.
What were the reasons behind the closure of Star Wars: Hunters?
Zynga announced the shutdown just 9 months after the game’s launch due to several factors. The game didn’t reach the expected player numbers or revenue targets needed to sustain ongoing development.
The official announcement from Zynga indicated that maintaining the game long-term was not viable with current player engagement levels. Some critics pointed to the mobile-focused design and limited character selection as contributing factors.
Unlike more successful titles in the competitive arena space, Star Wars: Hunters struggled to build a large enough community to support its live service model.
How will the shutdown of Star Wars: Hunters affect current players?
You can continue playing the game until October 1st, 2025, when the servers will be permanently shut down. After this date, the game will become entirely unplayable as it requires an online connection.
Your progress, characters, and customizations will be lost when the servers close. The game’s premium currency and all unlocked content will no longer be accessible after the shutdown date.
Matchmaking may become increasingly difficult as the player base naturally shrinks approaching the closure date.
Will there be any final updates or events for Star Wars: Hunters before it shuts down?
A final update is scheduled for April 15, 2025, which will likely be the last significant content addition to the game. This update may include special farewell events or bonuses for remaining players.
The developers have not announced specific end-of-service celebrations or events, but games in similar situations often introduce special limited-time modes or rewards.
You should keep an eye on the official Star Wars: Hunters social media channels for announcements about potential final community events.
What alternatives are available to Star Wars: Hunters players looking for similar games?
For competitive arena gameplay with hero-based combat, you might enjoy titles like Overwatch 2, Valorant, or Apex Legends which offer similar team-based objectives.
If you’re specifically looking for Star Wars games, Star Wars Battlefront II and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor provide different but engaging Star Wars experiences with active communities.
Mobile players can try Brawl Stars or Marvel Snap for quick competitive matches, or Marvel Rivals which offers a similar hero-shooter experience with a growing player base.
What happens to in-game purchases made in Star Wars: Hunters?
All in-game purchases will become inaccessible after the October 1st, 2025 shutdown. This includes premium currency, battle passes, skins, and any other digital content you’ve purchased.
Zynga has disabled new in-app purchases to prevent players from spending money on content that will soon disappear. If you have existing premium currency, you should use it before the servers close.
No refunds will be automatically processed for previously purchased content, as the terms of service indicate that digital purchases are temporary licenses rather than permanent ownership.
Can users expect compensation following the discontinuation of Star Wars: Hunters?
No official compensation plan has been announced by Zynga or Disney for the game’s closure. Most game shutdowns do not include refunds for previous purchases made during the active service period.
You may be eligible for refunds on very recent purchases through your platform’s refund policy (Apple App Store, Google Play, etc.) but these typically have short time windows.
Some gaming companies offer bonuses in their other active titles when a game shuts down, but Zynga has not announced any such plans for Star Wars: Hunters players.
