In Brief
- Closure Announcement: The web3 card battle game, Captain Tsubasa Rivals, operating on the Polygon and Oasys blockchains, is set to cease operations on November 28 at 06:00 UTC.
- End of Services: Various game services, including RIVALS Mode, PvP Mode, and the marketplace, will halt on October 26 at 23:59 UTC.
- Continued Availability: The Mini App version of Captain Tsubasa Rivals remains operational and is gearing up for its third season.
Game Shutdown Explained
Captain Tsubasa Rivals, a web3 card battle game based on the beloved anime series, has announced its shutdown on the Polygon and Oasys blockchains after running for nearly three years. The game developers have pointed to the insurmountable challenges of maintaining a viable game ecosystem as the primary reason for this decision. This development follows initial enthusiasm from the blockchain gaming community, but maintaining long-term operations has become untenable.
The team shared their sentiments in an official statement: “Taking on the challenge of combining the historic IP ‘Captain Tsubasa’ with the new frontier of blockchain gaming was by no means an easy path, but thanks to our users, we were able to gain a wealth of experiences together. Although we had aimed for long-term game operation, it has become difficult to continue the game ecosystem. After much deliberation, we have made the difficult decision to terminate the service.”
Detailed Shutdown Schedule
The process of phasing out Captain Tsubasa Rivals will begin with the termination of several core services. Starting October 26, the game will discontinue deposits, GEM purchases, RIVALS and PvP modes, and marketplace functionality. Subsequently, the Arena (Special Match) feature will be halted on November 7. This phased shutdown will culminate in the closure of both the game’s app and website on November 28 at 06:00 UTC.
Players are urged to withdraw any in-game tokens as soon as possible since retrieval will be impossible after the designated cutoff dates. Additionally, game-associated NFTs will become inaccessible post-shutdown.
Ongoing Operations and Future Prospects
Despite the closure of its blockchain versions, the developers have confirmed that the Mini App version of Captain Tsubasa Rivals will continue. This edition, accessible through the Telegram and LINE platforms, is preparing to launch its third season, indicating ongoing support for the game’s community. The Mini App allows players to earn tokens and compete for rewards based on their Player Power and Team Power, demonstrating a continued commitment to leveraging the Captain Tsubasa IP in the gaming landscape, albeit in a modified format.