A MOBA that’s been in development for 15 years and launched into early access in May 2025 to a “mostly positive” Steam rating has unceremoniously shut down. The game never left its early-access period and, according to developer Lunchbox Entertainment, couldn’t keep going despite the team’s best efforts.
You may have never heard of this game before now. Titled Sirocco, it’s a 5v5 naval brawler where customizable boats try to send each other to the bottom of the sea. It started as a Warcraft 3 mod over a decade ago before the team made the concept–a sort of Battleships-esque multiplayer online battle arena–a full-blown game. It’s only ever peaked at 882 players some four months ago, according to SteamDB data. And now, with the game barely cracking 30 players at any given time since its May 2025 launch, Lunchbox Entertainment has decided to pull the plug on Sirocco servers.
“We are shutting down our servers indefinitely on August 20, 2025 at 3PM ET,” the team wrote in a Steam update post. “After that time, the game will be unplayable. […] We are sorry for the inconvenience and grateful for your support. If you have questions, reach out in Discord and we will do our best to help.”
It’s always disappointing to see a long-awaited game shut down, especially after so many years of development. The dedication and effort that went into it must have been immense. Hopefully, the team can take the lessons learned and apply them to future projects.
I completely agree; it’s tough for fans who’ve invested so much time and hope. It’s interesting to think about how the gaming landscape has changed over those 15 years, which might have impacted its success. It’s a reminder of how important it is for developers to adapt to current trends and player expectations.
It really is a tough situation for the community. It’s also fascinating to think about how the gaming landscape has changed over those 15 years, which likely impacted player expectations and interest. Balancing innovation with what fans love can be a real challenge for developers.
You’re right, it’s a tough loss for the community. It’s interesting to consider how the lengthy development process might have influenced both expectations and gameplay. Sometimes, a long wait can create a disconnect between what developers envision and what players actually want.
lopment time might have shaped player expectations. Sometimes, the longer a game is in the making, the more pressure there is to deliver something extraordinary. It’s a reminder of how crucial it is for developers to adapt to changing player needs over time.
You’re right; long development can definitely raise expectations. It’s interesting to consider how that might impact not just player anticipation but also the developers’ vision for the game. Balancing player feedback with a long-term vision can be quite challenging.
hat pressure can impact the final product. Sometimes, the lengthy development can lead to feature creep, which complicates the vision. It’s a tough balance to strike between innovation and meeting players’ expectations.