Last fall, the online co-op game King of Meat launched to high hopes. But just four months later, its servers will close on April 9, 2026. This isn’t an isolated incident; many games face similar fates.
Released on October 31, 2025, and priced at $30, King of Meat had a flashy launch. It featured a big promotional push, including a fancy trailer revealed at Gamescom and a tournament driven by influencer MrBeast. Glowmade, the studio behind the game, hoped for around 100,000 players on launch day. Unfortunately, the game peaked at just 400 players on Steam and didn’t reach 1,000 total across all platforms. By December, layoffs were already planned, revealing trouble behind the scenes.
On February 23, Amazon announced the shutdown of King of Meat in a post titled “The Future of King of Meat.” The message noted the creative effort put in by Glowmade but highlighted the lack of audience engagement as a key issue. Players will be able to enjoy the game until the servers close, and all who purchased it will get a full refund soon.
“We sincerely thank every player who supported King of Meat,” Amazon wrote. The company acknowledged the enthusiasm from the community while expressing gratitude towards Glowmade for their efforts.
This situation raises broader questions about the future of live-service games. Many titles launched in recent years have faced similar shutdowns. The trend is worrying. A recent report indicated that over 50% of new live-service games fail to sustain a player base past their first year. High-profile failures like Concord, which lasted less than two weeks, have already shaken the industry.
Even as companies like Sony and Amazon plunge resources into live-service models, history shows that these games often falter. Despite successes like Helldivers 2, most of the older hits from games like Fortnite dominate the landscape, with new contenders struggling to gain traction.
As these closures pile up, one thing is clear: the industry needs to rethink its strategy. Instead of churning out many live-service games, a more thoughtful approach to game development might be necessary. Players have voiced their desire for more variety beyond the endless pursuit of “forever games.” Understanding what audiences really want could be key to future successes.
In the world of gaming, lessons must be learned from both successes and failures. The journey of King of Meat serves as a reminder of the industry’s fragility and the critical need for genuine player engagement.
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