Harry Potter: Magic Awakened Ends Spellbinding Journey

NetEase's collectible card RPG, 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 released in China in September 2021 and globally on June 27th, 2023, the game enjoyed a strong initial launch in China but faced delays and a less enthusiastic global reception. While its Clash Royale-inspired gameplay and wizarding duels initially captivated players, the game's performance ultimately fell short of expectations.

The decision to shut down stems from a combination of factors. Reddit discussions highlight player frustration with a shift towards pay-to-win mechanics. A controversial rework of the reward system negatively impacted free-to-play players, slowing progression and diminishing the advantage skilled players once held. These changes, coupled with the game's overall underperformance, led to the EOS decision.

The game has already been removed from the Google Play Store in affected regions as of August 26th, 2024. However, players in unaffected regions can still experience the Hogwarts atmosphere, dorm life, classes, secrets, and wizard duels.