Sci-fi first person shooter Shatterline will shut down its online multiplayer servers on June 26 and will function solely as a single-player title moving forward.
Originally launched as a free-to-play multiplayer game, Shatterline will also move to a pay-to-own model. This change comes as the studio prepares to discontinue in-game purchases, which were disabled on May 26. Refunds are being offered to users who made purchases in the 15 days prior to that date.
According to Frag Lab, the core mechanics will remain, but future updates will focus on solo content rather than competitive or co-operative play.
Source: ShatterlineWhy is Shatterline ending its online play?
Frag Lab cited a declining player base as a key reason for the decision. Despite releasing in early access in 2022 and later on the Epic Games Store in 2024, the game struggled to maintain enough daily active users to support consistent matchmaking.
In addition to reduced multiplayer activity, the game faced challenges in monetisation. With fewer players engaging with in-game purchases, sustaining development under a live-service model became increasingly difficult. As a result, the developers opted to move away from an online infrastructure and focus on a model that doesn’t rely on player concurrency.
Online sentiment has reflected frustration from long-term players and scepticism from those who were unsure about the game’s web3 integrations. Some have criticised the blockchain elements as poorly aligned with the player experience, whilst others have noted that the multiplayer experience suffered from low participation rates even before the pivot.
Source: ShatterlineWhat’s next for Shatterline?
According to Frag Lab, the studio plans to expand Shatterline’s single-player content after the online servers are shut down. Future updates will focus on adding new missions, enhancing offline play, and maintaining the game’s gunplay and progression systems for solo use.
The game will also adopt a one-time purchase model, ending its status as a free-to-play title. Players who already own the game will retain access, and the game will continue to be available to new users following the transition.
There is no confirmation yet on whether any blockchain elements will remain functional or be removed entirely. For now, Frag Lab has committed to supporting Shatterline in its revised form, though the scale and timeline of future updates are yet to be announced.
