Spectre Divide, a promising tactical shooter with an innovative gameplay twist, is officially shutting down. Despite securing a significant $30 million investment and launching on consoles less than a month ago, the game failed to maintain a sustainable player base following a troubled PC release.
Mountaintop Studios, the developer behind Spectre Divide, confirmed the closure in a statement from CEO Nate Mitchell. “Since the PC launch, we stretched our remaining capital as far as we could, but at this point, we’re out of funding to support the game,” Mitchell announced on Wednesday evening. “As a result, Mountaintop will be ceasing operations by the end of the week. We anticipate taking Spectre Divide offline within the next 30 days, while disabling new purchases and refunding money spent since the launch of Season 1.”
The game first debuted on PC in September 2023 and garnered attention due to its unique dual-character mechanic, which allowed players to swap between two operatives during matches. Endorsed by former Counter-Strike pro Michael “Shroud” Grzesiek, Spectre Divide aimed to carve out a niche in the competitive shooter landscape with its fast-paced strategy and striking visual style.
However, the launch was met with server instability, mixed player reviews, and controversy over high-priced in-game skins—some costing as much as $90. Even with a renewed push for player engagement through its Season 1: Flashpoint update and console release, the game couldn’t sustain momentum.
“We were hopeful after the first week,” Mitchell shared. “We had approximately 400,000 players join and reached a peak of 10,000 concurrent players across platforms. But as time passed, our active player count and revenue weren’t enough to support Spectre Divide or the studio.”
Mountaintop Studios, a team composed of industry veterans from Naughty Dog, Respawn Entertainment, and other AAA studios, employed over 70 people. Despite efforts to secure additional funding, a publishing deal, or an acquisition, the company was unable to keep the game afloat.
“We explored every possible option to continue,” Mitchell stated. “The gaming industry is facing a tough period right now, and while this is a painful decision, we remain incredibly proud of what we created alongside our community.”
As Spectre Divide prepares to go offline, the studio’s closure marks another unfortunate casualty in an increasingly difficult market for new multiplayer shooters.
