Multiplayer shooter with $60 million budget shuts down after just one season

Spectre Divide, a free-to-play multiplayer shooter released in September 2024, sought to differentiate itself from games like Counter-Strike 2 and Valorant with its unique Duality System, allowing players to control two characters simultaneously. It was developed by Mountaintop Studios, a team of industry veterans from Respawn, Bungie and Riot Games.

Since 2020, the studio had invested over $60 million in Spectre Divide’s development. Despite a strong start with around 400,000 players and a peak of 10,000 concurrent users, engagement steadily declined. On March 12, the developers announced that the game would be shut down within 30 days, meaning there will be no Season 2. As a result, the studio itself will also close.

Spectre Divide could not assert itself

Despite its innovative approach, Mountaintop Studios failed to build a lasting player community for Spectre Divide. This proved critical, as games-as-a-service titles depend on a steady player base, unlike traditional full-price games that recoup costs through one-time sales. For a live-service model to be financially sustainable, enough players must return regularly and be willing to spend on in-game purchases, battle passes or expansions.