A Hit Game Just Completely Shut Down (And Fans Are Stunned)

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Most games aim to have long-lasting success, but the gaming industry is incredibly competitive, even for popular titles. We’ve seen several games, like Concord and Highguard, unexpectedly close down recently. What’s surprising this time is that the game shutting down was actually doing well, having just earned €1.1 million, leaving its fans shocked by the announcement.

Fans were surprised and saddened today to hear that the trading card game Altered is being discontinued by its creator, Equinox. This announcement came after Equinox cancelled the crowdfunding campaign for its latest expansion, Roots of Corruption, on Gamefound. Although the campaign had already raised over €421,000 (exceeding its initial €50,000 goal) with an additional €680,000 pledged by partners – totaling over $1.1 million – Equinox stated that it fell short of its $2 million target needed to ensure the game’s future. As a result, not only is the crowdfunding campaign ending, but the game itself will no longer be developed. While some fans criticized the way Equinox launched the campaign and the game, many simply expressed disappointment at the news of its complete shutdown.

Why Is Altered Ending?

Altered quickly gained momentum in 2024, securing over €6 million in funding to launch its game. It stood out with impressive graphics, engaging gameplay, and a unique feature: a shared digital collection accessed through QR codes. While the game had a successful first year with regular new releases, it faced competition from other trading card games and some internal design challenges.

I was so excited when the Seeds of Unity campaign launched on Gamefound earlier this year! It was amazing to see it raise over €908,000 and actually get funded. But Equinox was upfront about something important: they said they really needed to reach €2.5 million overall to guarantee the game’s long-term success. That number included funding from retailers, not just backers like me.

Once the crowdfunding campaign was successful, the developers announced they had enough funds to release Seeds of Unity and continue the series with Roots of Corruption. They explained that they now need an additional €2 million to cover essential costs like game production, shipping, and employee salaries. While €2 million is a significant amount, it’s a huge leap from their original funding goal of just €50,000.

I was reading the latest update from Equinox about Seeds of Unity, and they explained why the crowdfunding goal is set at €50,000. Apparently, they need to hit that number to unlock all the cool stretch goals on Gamefound! Plus, they also said they couldn’t publicly show how much support they’re getting from professional retailers, which is a bit of a bummer, but I understand they have their reasons.

Equinox’s founder, Régis Bonnessée, recently shared an update on Gamefound regarding the game’s funding. He explained that the campaign is significantly short of its €2 million goal needed to ensure the game’s future. Bonnessée admitted it’s unrealistic to expect a turnaround before the Friday deadline, stating plainly that the current funding numbers aren’t sufficient.

Bonnessée then spoke directly to the players, store owners, and the team who built the game. Regarding the future, Bonnessée acknowledged everyone is likely wondering about their game collections, the fate of the game on Board Game Arena, and the overall legacy of the game world. They assured everyone they won’t be left without answers, but need time to process everything and properly conclude this chapter. Bonnessée expressed gratitude for every game played, every moment of enjoyment, and all the passion the community invested in the game, calling it an honor to have created it alongside them.

Now that development on the game has stopped, organized play will likely be discontinued, though the exact timing is uncertain. It’s always sad when a game ends support unexpectedly, particularly one that initially did well and seemed to have a bright future.

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2026-03-19 06:10