NetEase's Harry Potter: Magic Awakened, a collectible card role-playing game, is shutting down in select regions. The end-of-service (EOS) announcement impacts the Americas, Europe, and Oceania, with servers ceasing operation on October 29th, 2024. Players in Asia and certain MENA regions can continue playing.
Initially released in China in September 2021, the game saw a strong start, followed by global pre-registrations in February 2022. However, delays hampered its worldwide launch on June 27th, 2023, impacting its initial momentum.
Reasons for the EOS:
Despite its Clash Royale-inspired gameplay with a wizarding twist, Harry Potter: Magic Awakened failed to achieve sustained success. While initially praised for its card-battling mechanics and Hogwarts atmosphere, the game's popularity waned. Reddit discussions highlight player complaints regarding a shift towards pay-to-win mechanics. A controversial rework of the reward system negatively impacted free-to-play players, slowing progression and diminishing the value of skill.
The game has already been removed from the Google Play Store in affected regions (as of August 26th). Players in unaffected regions still have the opportunity to experience the game's dorm life, classes, secrets, and student duels.
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