Core Viewpoint - The game "New Moon Together" will stop updating after 417 days since its launch, and it has been removed from various platforms, although players can still log in [1][2]. Group 1: Game Development and Performance - The development team expressed regret over the project's failure to meet expectations but aimed to provide a satisfactory conclusion by completing the storyline in the final update [4]. - The game maintained a stable player rating between 7.5 and 8.2 during its operation, and it took four years to develop before its release in October 2024 [8][13]. - The game peaked at number one on the iOS free games chart and reached number 27 on the revenue chart but quickly declined thereafter [13]. Group 2: Player Sentiment and Community Response - Players had anticipated the game's decline, especially after the extension of update cycles from 28 to 42 days during the anniversary celebration [6]. - The emotional response from players is understandable, as the development team put significant effort into refining the game despite limited resources [8]. - The departure of key writer Bai Bohuan, who contributed to the game's narrative quality, was seen as a significant loss, impacting player attachment to the game [15]. Group 3: Industry Context and Competitive Landscape - The game faced stiff competition from other turn-based RPGs like "Honkai: Star Rail" and "Return to Future 1999," which outperformed it in content and gameplay [20]. - The industry trend shows that many games, including those from major developers, are facing similar fates of discontinuation, with a significant percentage of games not surviving their first year [23][25]. - The concept of a "dignified exit" for games is becoming more prevalent, with some titles opting for less abrupt endings to maintain player goodwill [30].

Core Insights - Supercell has made a bold move by terminating the development of "Clash Quest," marking the first time the company has discontinued a globally released game [1] - Following this decision, Supercell's investment in the Finnish studio Channel37 has led to the release of "The Last Caretaker," a PC survival building game, which is seen as a strategic expansion into the PC and console market [1][58] Group 1: Game Performance and Reception - "The Last Caretaker" has had a strong launch, quickly entering the Steam global sales chart and reaching as high as 20th place [2] - The game has seen a steady increase in concurrent players, growing from approximately 5,000 to over 10,000, indicating sustained player interest and positive word-of-mouth [3] - The game has received a favorable initial reception, with an 82% positive rating based on 2,509 user reviews on Steam [4] Group 2: Game Mechanics and Design - Utilizing Unreal Engine 5, "The Last Caretaker" features realistic lighting and detailed environments, enhancing player immersion in a post-apocalyptic world [7] - The game allows for high interactivity, with players able to manipulate various objects in the environment, which drives exploration and a sense of achievement [10][12] - Players must manage a core resource, electricity, which is crucial for survival and gameplay mechanics, adding a layer of strategic planning [14][24] Group 3: Development Strategy and Future Outlook - Supercell's investment strategy has shifted towards supporting smaller teams with potential, as seen with Channel37, which reflects a long-term vision rather than short-term gains [59][67] - The company aims to expand its portfolio beyond mobile games, as indicated by its investments in various studios focusing on PC and console games [58][62] - Supercell plans to continue investing in unique and creative development teams, as evidenced by its recent funding of a generative AI platform [70]

Game Releases - The action RPG "Luo Lan: Curse of the Sand" developed by Shanghai Liangwu Game Studio has released its first gameplay trailer, showcasing its world view based on ancient Loulan culture, a smooth combat system, and exotic scene design [1] - The cooperative looter-shooter game "ARC Raiders" developed by Embark Studios has officially launched, with a peak online player count reaching 260,000 on its first day and an overall positive review rate of 90% from over 20,000 user reviews by November 1 [3] - The action-adventure game "Changsheng: White Night Nameless" developed by Changsheng Game Studio has unveiled its first gameplay trailer, featuring a fantasy adventure journey that incorporates elements of Chinese mythology [5] - The cooperative Chinese folklore horror puzzle game "Nü Diao" developed by Shanyu Studio has released a free demo on Steam, inspired by Lu Xun's essay and deeply integrating Jiangsu and Zhejiang folk culture [7] - The game "Hollow Knight: Silksong" has introduced a community translation patch for Simplified Chinese, created by the Chinese player team Team Cart Fix [9] Industry News - Amazon has announced a new round of layoffs affecting approximately 14,000 employees, leading to the cessation of development on several AAA games, including the MMORPG "New World," which confirmed it will stop further development on October 29 [13] - The company Paper Games has undergone a business change, with founder and CEO Yao Runhao stepping down as the legal representative, succeeded by co-founder and COO Yao Fei [15] - Supercell has announced the termination of development for its team shooter game "Brawl Stars," with the final content update scheduled for December 2025, and the mobile game's Chinese server will cease operations on April 21, 2026 [11]

Core Insights - The development of "Squad Busters" will end, with the final update scheduled for December 2025, as the game did not meet Supercell's long-term quality standards despite initial success [2][4][5] - Supercell acknowledges the lessons learned from the failure of "Squad Busters" and emphasizes the importance of creating games that players can enjoy for years [3][5][16] - The decision to cease development was made after months of reflection, as the game failed to maintain its player base and did not evolve into a global phenomenon [3][10][23] Summary by Sections Game Launch and Initial Reception - "Squad Busters" launched in May 2024 and initially attracted millions of players, leading to optimism about its potential success [1][9] - The game received positive feedback at launch, which led Supercell to believe it could become a major hit alongside their other successful titles [2][9] Development Challenges - Despite efforts to address core issues, including the introduction of a new "Heroes" system, the game could not find a lasting solution to its problems [3][10] - By early 2025, Supercell faced a critical decision point regarding the game's future, ultimately opting for a bold creative change that did not yield the desired results [3][10] Conclusion of Development - The decision to end active development was described as extremely difficult, with a final update planned for December 2025, after which the game will remain available for a limited time before being closed in 2026 [4][5][20] - Supercell aims to redirect the talented team behind "Squad Busters" to new projects and existing successful games to enhance player experiences [6][11] Player Transition and Rewards - In-app purchases were disabled on October 30, 2025, and players can transfer their purchases to other Supercell games starting November 10, 2025 [6][12] - As a gesture of appreciation, players will receive free bundles in other Supercell games based on their playtime in "Squad Busters" [7][14] Industry Context - The announcement of "Squad Busters" ending its operations marks a significant moment for Supercell, which has historically maintained a 100% success rate for new game launches prior to this title [22][23] - Despite the setback, Supercell continues to see success with its established titles, indicating resilience in its long-term game development strategy [29][30]

Group 1 - The 22nd China International Digital Interactive Entertainment Expo (ChinaJoy) officially opened on August 1 in Shanghai, with Tencent Games showcasing 17 products, occupying nearly half of the N4 hall [1] - Tencent Games' theme for this year's event is "COOL Goose Summer Camp," which aims to enhance product experience and booth services, featuring over ten gameplay categories and popular new releases such as "Runeterra: League of Legends Card Battle" and "Dance Dance Revolution: Party" [1] - The event includes immersive trial experiences and interactive activities like esports competitions and challenge games, providing a comprehensive exhibition service for attendees [1] Group 2 - The "COOL Goose Summer Camp" consists of a central square, a comprehensive exhibition area, and three independent exhibition zones, highlighted by a 40-meter "Goose MAX" screen that connects various experiences [2] - Attendees can engage in "cyber interaction" by projecting hand-drawn images and real-time comments onto the "Goose MAX" screen, with live leaderboards for competitive events displayed [2] - The central square features a green camp design with multiple interactive areas, allowing players to participate in fun activities and earn rewards, such as reciting a poem to use a loudspeaker or generating AI-customized memorabilia [2] Group 3 - The central square is flanked by a comprehensive exhibition area and three independent booths, showcasing 17 game products with diverse interactive experiences [3] - The comprehensive exhibition area features 11 products, including popular titles like "Honor of Kings" and games from Supercell, covering various genres such as strategy and simulation [3] - Independent booths include major titles from the Dungeon Fighter IP and new releases like "Valorant" and "Runeterra," offering extensive trial activities and a unique exhibition experience for players [3]

Core Insights - Supercell, a leading mobile game developer, has returned to the market with two new titles, "Squad Busters" and "mo.co," after a six-year hiatus, but both games have underperformed commercially [1][3][4] - The release strategies for both games were experimental, bypassing traditional soft launch processes, which may have contributed to their lack of success [3][6] - Despite the disappointing performance, the new titles reflect Supercell's willingness to innovate and take risks in game design and distribution strategies [3][6] Group 1: Commercial Performance - "Squad Busters" generated approximately $70 million in its first year, significantly lower than "Brawl Stars," which earned $340 million in its first year [4] - In May 2025, "Squad Busters" only earned $1.2 million, marking a low point for Supercell compared to its previous titles [4][6] - "mo.co," still in a soft launch phase, earned $2.5 million in its first three months, which is also below Supercell's historical performance [6] Group 2: Game Release Strategies - "Squad Busters" was launched globally without a soft launch, while "mo.co" utilized an invitation-only system for its soft launch, which deviated from typical practices [8][11] - The invitation system for "mo.co" created a sense of exclusivity and urgency among players, leading to approximately 2.5 million downloads in its first month [13][11] - Both games experienced a rapid decline in downloads post-launch, indicating that even Supercell's brand power may not be enough to sustain interest without effective gameplay [16] Group 3: Gameplay and Target Audience - "Squad Busters" aimed to create a highly casual experience but had to pivot towards a more mid-core gameplay style due to initial player feedback [17][18] - The game underwent significant changes in its 2.0 version, introducing a hero system and a revamped progression system to enhance player control and strategic depth [19][23] - "mo.co" was designed for mid-core players from the outset, featuring a cooperative action RPG format with various game modes, but it lacks some casual elements that could broaden its appeal [32][33] Group 4: Monetization Strategies - "Squad Busters" initially focused on a pay-to-win model, which was later adjusted to include more cosmetic items as the game evolved [44][51] - "mo.co" relies heavily on cosmetic monetization, similar to PC and console games, but this approach may limit long-term revenue potential if not balanced with functional upgrades [44][48] - The contrasting monetization strategies of the two games highlight Supercell's experimentation with different revenue models in the mid-core gaming space [54][56] Group 5: Operational Activities - Supercell has historically excelled in operational activities, but "Squad Busters" has not yet reached the level of engagement seen in titles like "Brawl Stars" [56][60] - The game has hosted numerous events, focusing on collection and cooperation, but lacks the depth and variety of activities that keep players engaged long-term [60][62] - "mo.co" has a more streamlined approach to events, focusing on fewer but more impactful activities, which may help maintain player interest without overwhelming them [73][85] Group 6: Future Outlook - Both "Squad Busters" and "mo.co" represent Supercell's bold experiments in game design, with the former transitioning towards a more structured mid-core experience and the latter aiming to refine its core gameplay [87][88] - The potential for "mo.co" to evolve its monetization strategy and operational activities remains, as Supercell is known for its ability to adapt and innovate [89][90] - The limited social features in both games indicate an area for improvement, as enhancing community engagement could significantly impact player retention and satisfaction [86][91]