ChronoForge, the developer behind a recently launched Early Access game, has announced its impending shutdown, with all services ceasing by December 30, 2025. The decision comes after what the company described as “many headwinds,” including personal financial contributions from founders, significant team reductions, and an inability to secure sufficient external funding or an acquisition.
The news, shared in a public statement by @playchronoforge, expressed the “painful reality” that the company can no longer sustain the game or its associated token utilities. This marks a disappointing end for a project that, despite its challenges, garnered a respectable 4.2 rating on Epic Games during its Early Access phase, outperforming some better-funded competitors.
Battling Against the Odds: A Difficult Journey
ChronoForge detailed a challenging operational period, highlighting how founders had personally funded the project since July, alongside maintaining long hours with a team that had been cut by 80%. The game’s Early Access launch on September 10th was met with critical appreciation regarding its quality, even amidst early bugs, reflecting a dedicated development effort.
Despite these efforts, the company faced an uphill battle. “We continued to improve the game with patches and features despite no marketing budget, below sustainment revenue, loss of codevelopers, and terrible web3 gaming sentiment,” the statement read. This candid admission points to the broader difficulties faced by smaller studios, particularly within the often-volatile web3 gaming sector, which the company noted only recently saw a well-funded exception with the Fableborne launch.
LATEST: $ETH | @playchronoforge on @AbstractChain has announced that it will shut down by the end of this month. pic.twitter.com/f5QZXR1632
— crypto.news (@cryptodotnews) December 10, 2025
The Search for a Lifeline Ends
The core issue ultimately came down to financial viability. ChronoForge explicitly stated, “Unfortunately we have been unable to find sufficient funding or an acquirer to continue on.” Discussions with the Rift Foundation, likely a partner or potential investor, solidified the grim outlook, leading to the decision to cease operations.
The shutdown date of December 30, 2025, provides players with a window before services are fully discontinued. While the announcement is undoubtedly a blow to its community and the remaining development team, it sheds light on the harsh realities of game development and the crucial role of sustained funding in bringing even well-received projects to long-term fruition.
