Avengers, disassemble.
Disney announced plans Thursday to shut down the Marvel: Avengers Alliance online game series at the end of the month.
Marvel: Avengers Alliance originally launched on Facebook in 2012 alongside the first Avengers film, which starred an all-star cast that included Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, Chris Evans as Captain America and Chris Hemsworth as Thor, among others.
The popular turn-based role-playing game spawned a sequel and versions for mobile devices. The games featured Marvel superheroes such as Iron Man, Black Widow, Cyclops, Spider-Man and She-Hulk.
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According to Marvel, the mobile game amassed 70 million players since its launch.
Disney said in a statement it was ending the game because it’s shifting its “development focus towards other online and mobile play experiences.”
The official Facebook page of the mobile game addressed the news Thursday, saying it will also no longer be available on other platforms like the App Store, Google Play, Amazon Appstore and Windows Phone Store.
“Retiring a title with such a dedicated and amazing fan base was a decision not made lightly, but we want to thank you for your engagement, passion and commitment to the game,” the post reads.
The announcement comes just six months after the company unveiled a sequel to the original game called Marvel: Avengers Alliance 2, as reported by Entertainment Weekly.
Fans were not happy with the announcement and took to social media.
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“So you’re shutting it down to focus on other games,” wrote Bryan Wooddell on the game’s official Facebook page. “Why would any of us play any new games you release knowing what you did with this one?”
“So you’re telling me the hundreds of dollars I put into the game was flushed down the toilet,” wrote Steven Fasulka. “We should still be able to at least play the game as is even if there are no more updates. You guys are nothing more than thieves.”
“I was a fan of the game from the beginning,” wrote Andreas Pilsner. “I spent a lot of time and money for this. And Now you simply close the game. If that’s your answer to your fans you lose many of them. Not only in the game but for the whole Marvel and Disney Universe.”
The games will officially go offline Sept. 30.
With files from the Associated Press
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