Harry Potter: Magic Awakened EOS Announced

NetEase's collectible card game, Harry Potter: Magic Awakened, is shutting down in select regions. The end-of-service (EOS) announcement impacts the Americas, Europe, and Oceania, with servers ceasing operation on October 29th, 2024. Players in Asia and certain MENA regions can continue playing.

Initially unveiled in 2020 and developed by Zen Studio, the game saw a strong launch in China in September 2021. Global pre-registrations began in February 2022, but subsequent delays dampened the initial excitement. The worldwide release on June 27th, 2023, failed to achieve sustained popularity.

The game's decline is attributed to several factors. While its Clash Royale-inspired gameplay and wizarding duels initially resonated with players, the game's performance didn't meet expectations. Reddit discussions highlight player frustration over a shift towards pay-to-win mechanics. A controversial rework of the reward system penalized skilled free-to-play players, slowing progression and discouraging continued engagement.

The game has already been removed from the Google Play Store in the affected regions (as of August 26th). However, players in unaffected regions can still experience the Hogwarts atmosphere, including dorm life, classes, secret discovery, and student duels.