Sad news mobile enthusiasts…another popular game out of Japan is shuttering its servers. The game in question is SINoALICE developed by Pokelabo and published by SquareEnix, which originally launched in Japan in June 2017 and worldwide in July 2020.
The announcement (via Crunchyroll News) also states that the manga adaptation will conclude with the sixth volume, which will hit store shelves in Japan in January 2024. SquareEnix will release the fifth volume of the manga in English on November 23, 2023. Along with the reveal of the game’s imminent closure, SINoALICE has also halted the sale of its premium currency. If you still have unused crystals, you can request a refund but fans are out of luck with already purchased items.
The global developer for SINoALICE, Nexon Korea Corporation, describes the roleplaying game as:
SINoALICE is a chilling retelling of classic fairy tale within an unsettling dark fantasy world inspired by the game’s creative director, Yokō Tarō (NieR:Automata). The game follows several popular fairy tale heroes as they work together to navigate perilous lands, battle menacing enemies and solve mind-bending puzzles to resurrect the storytellers that created them.
When does SINoALICE shut down?
For those who are still active players of the game or want to check it out while you still have the chance, the global servers will deactivate on November 15. The DMM and browser versions of the game will be deactivated on December 26th, and finally, the service will end in Japan on January 15th.
Unfortunately, SINoALICE only received mixed reviews upon its global release. While this will likely never be Yoko Taro’s most memorable work, it might not be a bad idea to check out this title while you still can do so. This is especially true for those who enjoyed his previous projects, NieR and Drakengard.