Viewing Company : 2K Games


Four years after its last update, Battleborn will shut down in 2021
Four years after its last update, Battleborn will shut down in 2021

Despite receiving its final content update way back in September of 2017, Gearbox Software’s Battleborn has held on for an impressive amount of time. While the game was promised to remain online for the “foreseeable future”, that hazy distant date has finally been pinned down and Battleborn will be switched off in January of 2021.

Community team member, 2K Mike, posted the news on November 13th to the 2K Support site to lay out the details:

Battleborn has been removed from digital storefronts, and we are now in the process of gradually sunsetting the game to focus our efforts and resources on other projects. 

So, what does that mean? At the moment, you won’t see any effect if you own a copy of the game. But there are some things you should be aware of:

– After February 24, 2020, you will no longer be able to purchase premium virtual currency (“Platinum”) for use in the game.

– The game’s servers will remain active and the game will continue to be playable until January 2021.

– Once servers are deactivated, Battleborn will no longer be playable.

Once platinum stops being sold, can I still spend the in-game currency I already have?

Yes, you can still spend any virtual currency (both Platinum and the coins you earn through gameplay) you have in your account until the game’s servers shut down in 2021. You can still grind for it in the game, too, you just won’t be able to directly purchase it anymore.

Are you taking any features offline when you stop selling Platinum?

Nope! Nothing else in the game will change until January 2021, when the servers go offline.

Will I still be able to play Battleborn in any fashion (e.g. the single-player campaign, peer-to-peer games) after the servers go offline?

No, once the servers are offline in January 2021, Battleborn won’t be playable in any way.

Although downloads of Battleborn have been removed, physical copies (and a few download codes) are still available at relatively cheap prices if anyone is interested in checking out the game. I’ll add the dates to the Watch List calendar and have a page up on the site for the game sometime soon. Thanks to everyone who submitted this one to the site!

2K Games shutting down Evolve servers September 3rd

2K Games shutting down Evolve servers September 3rd

On June 1st, 2018 “2K Mike” from publisher 2K Games announced via a support page update that servers for Evolve and Evolve Stage 2 will be shut down on September 3rd, 2018. This news comes over a year after 2K halted active development of Evolve and reallocated the game’s developer, Turtle Rock Studios, onto other projects. 2K has maintained the game’s servers ever since but stated in October 2016 that there would be no new content. The announcement follows:

Evolve’s dedicated servers will be shutting down on September 3, 2018. This means several game features will no longer be available, such as Hunt (Ranked), leaderboards, and the in-game store. Stage 2 will no longer be available on PC, and players will have plenty of opportunity to spend their in-game and virtual currency before the store is removed. Peer-to-peer multiplayer will still be available in Legacy Evolve on PC and console, and we’d like to stress that all players will retain all purchased DLC content, such as Hunters, Monsters, and skins.

Here’s a timeline of the planned server shutdown

July 2, 2018: Virtual currency bundles removed from Evolve Stage 2 and will no longer be available for purchase

September 3, 2018: Dedicated servers shut down, Evolve Stage 2 no longer available, in-game store no longer available

The 2K support page includes a helpful FAQ that outlines what modes and features will become unavailable after each date. Unsurprisingly, the ranked “Hunt” mode will be removed, as will player profiles, leaderboards, in-game purchases, the newsfeed, and player badges. I’ll have the dates added to the Watch List calendar and a page ready for the site soon.

Mafia debuted on GOG.com and returned to Steam in 2017

Mafia debuted on GOG.com and returned to Steam in 2017

For such an often lamented delisting you’d think I would’ve caught word that Mafia returned to Steam (and finally debuted on GOG) late in 2017. Making its first appearance in the early 2000’s, it was a miracle that the game ever made it to Steam in the first place. Sadly, it was delisted just two years later due to its licensed 1920’s era soundtrack, and fans have been mourning the loss ever since.

Seriously, it’s right up there with Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game for how often its removal is brought up. 2K Games finally put in the work to bring it back though, and while all of the licensed music has been excised from these 2017 releases, the experience is still intact. Psst! If you dig around the game’s forums you might find a guide on how to restore the music in the DRM-free GOG.com version, if you’re willing to put in the work.

I’ve updated its page on the site with more details but for the record, Mafia made its debut on GOG.com on October 20th, 2017 and returned to Steam on November 21st, 2017. If you’ve been mourning its loss you can even grab it for $7.49 on a GOG.com weekend sale that runs through 10pm UTC on Monday, May 14th. Sorry I didn’t get the news out there sooner!