Harry Potter: Magic Awakened EOS Announced, Guess The Spells Didn’t Work After All!

NetEase's Harry Potter: Magic Awakened, a collectible card RPG, 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 saw a strong initial launch in China but experienced slower-than-expected growth internationally. While its Clash Royale-inspired gameplay and wizarding world setting initially resonated with 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 changes to the reward system, which allegedly shifted the game's balance towards paying players, diminishing the impact of skill for free-to-play users. Nerfs and slower progression further alienated a significant portion of the player base.

The game has already been removed from the Google Play Store in the affected regions (as of August 26th). Players in unaffected regions still have the opportunity to experience the game's Hogwarts-inspired atmosphere, dorm life, classes, secrets, and wizard duels.