Square Enix is shutting down Final Fantasy VII: Ever Crisis, marking yet another high-profile exit for the publisher in the mobile space. The game, which will reach its three-year anniversary this year, is scheduled to cease operations in October 2026.
Quick Facts
- Game: Final Fantasy VII: Ever Crisis
- Status: Shutting down in October 2026
- Platform: iOS, Android
The closure of Ever Crisis continues a trend of discontinued live service titles from the developer. The list of deceased Square Enix mobile projects is extensive, including Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link, Fullmetal Alchemist Mobile, and Dragon Quest of the Stars. Even Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent has seen its operations transferred to NetEase, while the long-running Final Fantasy Brave Exvius—which lasted nearly a decade—was also axed.
Why Square Enix Struggles on Mobile
Despite the company’s storied history with iconic franchises like Dragon Quest and Kingdom Hearts, translating its success from console and PC to mobile has proven difficult. While traditional rereleases of classic titles like Final Fantasy VI or the original Dragon Quest trilogy have found an audience, the live service format has struggled to resonate.
A primary friction point is the disconnect between the company’s core audience and the expectations of mobile gaming. Square Enix fans typically gravitate toward narrative-driven, single-player experiences with significant grind potential. These players often bounce off live service models, which are designed to cater to large, competitive audiences and high-spending players, rather than the traditional JRPG fan base.
Furthermore, the market for RPGs on mobile is highly competitive. Titles built from the ground up for the platform, such as Genshin Impact, Arknights: Endfield, and Reverse: 1999, present significant obstacles for Square Enix’s spinoff attempts. Regardless of how many familiar characters are included, these titles often struggle to compete with games optimized specifically for the mobile experience.
A Shifting Mobile Strategy
The business side of Square Enix has recently been under scrutiny, with reports indicating that the company has historically overlooked the potential of mobile or lacked the dedicated commitment seen by studios like Supercell. Unlike mobile-first developers who maintain rigorous soft-launch and cancellation processes for unproven hits, Square Enix has often pushed games out only to pull support mere years later.
Recent business moves suggest a shift toward consolidating development in Japan, likely indicating a renewed focus on tried-and-true genres and platforms. However, the company is still experimenting with new formats. Dissidia Duellum: Final Fantasy serves as a recent example, offering a mobile-focused multiplayer battler that departs from the traditional JRPG recreation style seen in previous failed ventures.