{"id":2032866,"date":"2026-07-08T12:32:53","date_gmt":"2026-07-08T09:32:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2032866"},"modified":"2026-07-08T12:32:53","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T09:32:53","slug":"the-retreat-from-mobile-games-continues-as-mario-kart-tour-and-final-fantasy-7-ever-crisis-will-be-taken-offline-later-this-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2032866","title":{"rendered":"The retreat from mobile games continues as Mario Kart Tour and Final Fantasy 7 Ever Crisis will be taken offline later this year"},"content":{"rendered":"<article class=\"article \" data-ads=\"true\" data-article-type=\"news\" data-article-group=\"news\" data-paywalled=\"false\" data-premium=\"false\" data-sponsored=\"false\" data-type=\"article\">\n<header class=\"article_header\" data-component=\"article-header\">\n<div class=\"breadcrumbs\">\n<nav class=\"nav_breadcrumbs\" data-component=\"nav-breadcrumbs\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumb\">\n<ul class=\"nav-links\">\n<li>\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/\" data-active=\"false\"><br \/>\n                      Home<br \/>\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li>\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/news\" data-active=\"false\"><br \/>\n                      News<br \/>\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/nav><\/div>\n<div class=\"headline_details\" id=\"main-content\">\n<h1 class=\"title\">The retreat from mobile games continues as Mario Kart Tour and Final Fantasy 7 Ever Crisis will be taken offline later this year<\/h1>\n<p class=\"strapline\">Rolling down.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"headline_asset\">\n<figure class=\"headline_image_wrapper\">\n<p>        <img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"headline_image\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/Mario-Kart-Tour-key-art.jpg?width=570&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;dpr=3&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"Mario Kart Tour key art cropped\" loading=\"eager\" data-uri=\"Mario-Kart-Tour-key-art.jpg\" data-lightbox width=\"570\" height=\"321\"><figcaption>\n          <span class=\"attribution\">Image credit: <cite>Nintendo<\/cite><\/span><br \/>\n        <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"metadata\">\n<div class=\"avatar\">\n<p>    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Fran Ruiz avatar\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/fran-j-ruiz-author.png?width=2048&amp;height=2048&amp;fit=bounds&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"180\" height=\"180\"><\/p>\n<p>  <img alt=\"Fran Ruiz avatar\" data-autosize=\"crop_lossy\" data-uri=\"fran-j-ruiz-author.png\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"180\" height=\"180\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"text\">\n<div class=\"byline\">\n                  <span class=\"article_type\" data-slug=\"news\"><br \/>\n                    News<br \/>\n                  <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"by\">by<\/span> <span class=\"author\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/authors\/fran-ruiz\">Fran Ruiz<\/a><\/span>                    <span class=\"job_title\"><br \/>\n                      Contributor<br \/>\n                    <\/span>\n            <\/div>\n<div class=\"published_at\">\nPublished on <time datetime=\"2026-07-08T12:32:53+00:00\">July 8, 2026<\/time>              <\/div>\n<div class=\"comments\">\n      <a class=\"comments__link comments-bubble\" href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/mobile-games-mario-kart-tour-ff7-ever-crisis-shut-down?view=comments\" rel=\"nofollow\"><br \/>\n          2 comments<br \/>\n      <\/a>\n    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"mypop-header-wrapper\">\n<p><button class=\"mypop-button button wide\" data-state=\"follow\" data-type=\"tag\" data-uuid=\"205d5a07-ea61-4c30-a743-30b9370dc7d9\" data-name=\"Final Fantasy VII: Ever Crisis\" data-follow-text=\"Follow Final Fantasy VII: Ever Crisis\" data-unfollow-text=\"Following Final Fantasy VII: Ever Crisis\" data-aria-follow-text=\"Follow Final Fantasy VII: Ever Crisis\" data-aria-unfollow-text=\"Following Final Fantasy VII: Ever Crisis\" data-popup=\"true\" data-force-login=\"true\" aria-label=\"Follow Final Fantasy VII: Ever Crisis\" title=\"Follow Final Fantasy VII: Ever Crisis\"><br \/>\n  Follow Final Fantasy VII: Ever Crisis<br \/>\n<\/button>          <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"article_body\" data-component=\"article-content\">\n<div class=\"article_body_content article-styling\">\n<p>There seems to be a retreat from mobile adaptations of big gaming brands underway. From <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/call-of-duty-warzone-mobile-will-shut-down\">Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile being shut down<\/a> to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/sony-closes-dark-outlaw-games-and-downsizes-mobile-gaming-efforts\">Sony heavily downsizing mobile operations<\/a>, the gold rush for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/the-elder-scrolls-blades-delisted-from-mobile-stores-and-eshop-goes-offline-this-summer\">ambitious big-IP adaptations<\/a> is declining. And now, Nintendo and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/companies\/square-enix\">Square Enix<\/a> are following a similar path.<\/p>\n<p>Today, both companies have announced they&#8217;re winding down their mobile games <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/mariokarttourEN\/status\/2074767600245252177?s=20\">Mario Kart Tour<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/en.ffviiec.com\/news\/end-of-service\/\">Final Fantasy 7 Ever Crisis<\/a>, respectively. Funnily enough, the cut-off dates also line up. The Mario Kart mobile game is going offline on 29th-30th September, and the mission-based take on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/games\/final-fantasy-vii\">FF7<\/a> is ending service 6th October.<\/p>\n<figure>\n<div class=\"video_wrapper youtube\">\n<a aria-label=\"Mario Kart Tour Official Launch Trailer\" class=\"video-facade full-size\" data-platform=\"youtube\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/qMroyKVVxvg?autoplay=1\" title=\"Click to play video from YouTube\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Cover image for YouTube video\" class=\"video-facade__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/qMroyKVVxvg\/hqdefault.jpg\"><span class=\"video-facade__title\">Mario Kart Tour Official Launch Trailer<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/a>\n<\/div><figcaption>Mario Kart Tour Official Launch Trailer<a class=\"video\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=qMroyKVVxvg\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Watch on YouTube<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/games\/mario-kart-tour\">Mario Kart Tour<\/a> players can no longer buy rubies &#8211; the game&#8217;s premium currency &#8211; or the Gold Pass. On X, <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SuperMarioOOC85\/status\/2074773360446218684?s=20\">some<\/a> players are already asking for an offline version of the game. It&#8217;s a prime  example of a delisted game essentially becoming lost media, otherwise, which feels especially relevant after <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/petition-against-sony-killing-playstation-physical-media\">Sony announced it&#8217;s ending production of disc-based PlayStation games<\/a>. Nintendo&#8217;s mobile gaming push <a href=\"https:\/\/mobilegamer.biz\/after-1-6bn-earned-from-730m-downloads-is-nintendo-giving-up-on-mobile-yes-it-is\/\">peaked in October 2019 with MK Tour&#8217;s launch<\/a>, but it&#8217;s been on a downward trajectory since.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"injection_placeholder\" data-position=\"1\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Less is known about the shutdown of Square Enix&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/final-fantasy-7-ever-crisis-turns-square-enixs-best-into-an-avalanche-of-money-grabbing-tactics\">divisive mobile take on FF7<\/a>, but it&#8217;s been noted that &#8220;after careful consideration&#8221;, it was deemed difficult to support the game into the future. For reference, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pocketgamer.biz\/final-fantasy-vii-ever-crisis-surpasses-100-million\/\">Ever Crisis was already facing a slowdown during its second month out<\/a>, with $20.8m generated in September 2023 and $13.3m the following month. By late 2024, it&#8217;d surpassed $100m in gross player spending; 71 percent of revenue came from Japan. Though the totals might look healthy, the game never grew or sustained an enduring community.<\/p>\n<p>However, there&#8217;s precedent for Square Enix turning mobile games into premium single-player, more traditional releases like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/octopath-traveler-0-experiment-failed-square-enix-rpg\">Octopath Traveler 0<\/a> and the upcoming <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/first-hd-2d-final-fantasy-resonance-brave-exvius-mobile-game\">Final Fantasy Resonance<\/a>, so this could indicate similar treatment for Ever Crisis. Its community may be luckier than Mario Kart Tour&#8217;s.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/io-interactive-regains-control-project-fantasy\">IO Interactive has also quietly confirmed<\/a> it&#8217;s stepping away from mobile devices as it seeks to focus on its core properties after <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/007-first-light-io-interactive-hitman-layoffs-project-fantasy\">having its partnership with Xbox for Project Fantasy ended<\/a>, even after <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/io-interactives-james-bond-game-007-first-light-sells-27-million-copies-in-its-first-week-as-dev-reiterates-free-year-one-content\">launching 007 First Light to great success<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"preferred-source\" data-component=\"preferred-source\">\nLove Eurogamer.net? Make us a <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\">Preferred Source on Google<\/a> and catch more of our coverage in your feeds.  <\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"article_body\" data-component=\"article-content\">\n<div class=\"article_body_content article-styling\">\n<p>There seems to be a retreat from mobile adaptations of big gaming brands underway. From <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/call-of-duty-warzone-mobile-will-shut-down\">Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile being shut down<\/a> to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/sony-closes-dark-outlaw-games-and-downsizes-mobile-gaming-efforts\">Sony heavily downsizing mobile operations<\/a>, the gold rush for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/the-elder-scrolls-blades-delisted-from-mobile-stores-and-eshop-goes-offline-this-summer\">ambitious big-IP adaptations<\/a> is declining. And now, Nintendo and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/companies\/square-enix\">Square Enix<\/a> are following a similar path.<\/p>\n<p>Today, both companies have announced they&#8217;re winding down their mobile games <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/mariokarttourEN\/status\/2074767600245252177?s=20\">Mario Kart Tour<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/en.ffviiec.com\/news\/end-of-service\/\">Final Fantasy 7 Ever Crisis<\/a>, respectively. Funnily enough, the cut-off dates also line up. The Mario Kart mobile game is going offline on 29th-30th September, and the mission-based take on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/games\/final-fantasy-vii\">FF7<\/a> is ending service 6th October.<\/p>\n<figure>\n<div class=\"video_wrapper youtube\">\n<a aria-label=\"Mario Kart Tour Official Launch Trailer\" class=\"video-facade full-size\" data-platform=\"youtube\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/qMroyKVVxvg?autoplay=1\" title=\"Click to play video from YouTube\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Cover image for YouTube video\" class=\"video-facade__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/qMroyKVVxvg\/hqdefault.jpg\"><span class=\"video-facade__title\">Mario Kart Tour Official Launch Trailer<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/a>\n<\/div><figcaption>Mario Kart Tour Official Launch Trailer<a class=\"video\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=qMroyKVVxvg\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Watch on YouTube<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/games\/mario-kart-tour\">Mario Kart Tour<\/a> players can no longer buy rubies &#8211; the game&#8217;s premium currency &#8211; or the Gold Pass. On X, <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SuperMarioOOC85\/status\/2074773360446218684?s=20\">some<\/a> players are already asking for an offline version of the game. It&#8217;s a prime  example of a delisted game essentially becoming lost media, otherwise, which feels especially relevant after <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/petition-against-sony-killing-playstation-physical-media\">Sony announced it&#8217;s ending production of disc-based PlayStation games<\/a>. Nintendo&#8217;s mobile gaming push <a href=\"https:\/\/mobilegamer.biz\/after-1-6bn-earned-from-730m-downloads-is-nintendo-giving-up-on-mobile-yes-it-is\/\">peaked in October 2019 with MK Tour&#8217;s launch<\/a>, but it&#8217;s been on a downward trajectory since.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"injection_placeholder\" data-position=\"1\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Less is known about the shutdown of Square Enix&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/final-fantasy-7-ever-crisis-turns-square-enixs-best-into-an-avalanche-of-money-grabbing-tactics\">divisive mobile take on FF7<\/a>, but it&#8217;s been noted that &#8220;after careful consideration&#8221;, it was deemed difficult to support the game into the future. For reference, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pocketgamer.biz\/final-fantasy-vii-ever-crisis-surpasses-100-million\/\">Ever Crisis was already facing a slowdown during its second month out<\/a>, with $20.8m generated in September 2023 and $13.3m the following month. By late 2024, it&#8217;d surpassed $100m in gross player spending; 71 percent of revenue came from Japan. Though the totals might look healthy, the game never grew or sustained an enduring community.<\/p>\n<p>However, there&#8217;s precedent for Square Enix turning mobile games into premium single-player, more traditional releases like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/octopath-traveler-0-experiment-failed-square-enix-rpg\">Octopath Traveler 0<\/a> and the upcoming <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/first-hd-2d-final-fantasy-resonance-brave-exvius-mobile-game\">Final Fantasy Resonance<\/a>, so this could indicate similar treatment for Ever Crisis. Its community may be luckier than Mario Kart Tour&#8217;s.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/io-interactive-regains-control-project-fantasy\">IO Interactive has also quietly confirmed<\/a> it&#8217;s stepping away from mobile devices as it seeks to focus on its core properties after <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/007-first-light-io-interactive-hitman-layoffs-project-fantasy\">having its partnership with Xbox for Project Fantasy ended<\/a>, even after <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/io-interactives-james-bond-game-007-first-light-sells-27-million-copies-in-its-first-week-as-dev-reiterates-free-year-one-content\">launching 007 First Light to great success<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Home News The retreat from mobile games continues as Mario Kart Tour and Final Fantasy 7 Ever Crisis will be taken offline later this year Rolling down. Image credit: Nintendo News by Fran Ruiz Contributor Published on July 8, 2026 2 comments Follow Final Fantasy VII: Ever Crisis There seems to be a retreat from [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,253],"class_list":["post-2032866","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-eurogamer-net"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2032866","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2032866"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2032866\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2032866"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2032866"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2032866"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}