The mobile gaming landscape continues to contract as major publishers retreat from ambitious, big-IP adaptations. Following recent closures like Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile and Sony’s downsizing of its mobile efforts, both Nintendo and Square Enix have confirmed they are winding down support for two of their most prominent mobile titles: Mario Kart Tour and Final Fantasy 7 Ever Crisis.
Nintendo’s Mario Kart Tour, which reached its peak following its October 2019 launch, is set to go offline on September 29th–30th, 2026. Players are already reporting that the game’s premium currency, rubies, and the Gold Pass subscription are no longer available for purchase. The impending closure has triggered concerns within the community regarding the preservation of the title, with fans on X calling for an offline version of the game to prevent it from becoming lost media—a topic of particular sensitivity following Sony’s recent decision to halt production of physical disc-based PlayStation games.
Square Enix is also shuttering its mission-based Final Fantasy 7 Ever Crisis. The game is scheduled to end service on October 6, 2026. While the company stated that it was deemed "difficult to support the game into the future" after careful consideration, the title had experienced a noticeable decline in momentum. Despite grossing over $100 million by late 2024—with 71 percent of that revenue originating from Japan—the game struggled to sustain an enduring community or maintain the high spending levels seen during its second month, which dropped from $20.8 million in September 2023 to $13.3 million the following month.
There is some hope for Ever Crisis players, however. Square Enix has a history of transitioning mobile projects into traditional, premium single-player experiences, such as the Octopath Traveler 0 experiment and the upcoming Final Fantasy Resonance. It is possible that Ever Crisis could receive similar treatment, offering its community a more stable path forward than the current outlook for Mario Kart Tour.
The move follows a broader trend of companies refocusing on core properties. IO Interactive recently confirmed it is stepping away from mobile devices entirely to prioritize its main catalog, despite the success of 007 First Light, which sold 2.7 million copies in its first week.