Sony has shut down Destruction AllStars, one of the first exclusives for PlayStation 5 and one of the earlier attempts by the company to venture into the live service format.
The game was pulled from sale without much notice, and the servers were permanently shut down five and a half years after its release. Destruction AllStars can still be launched in single-player Arcade mode, but multiplayer and most online features are no longer available.
Sony cites ongoing technical issues as the reason, although it is clear that the game never managed to seriously establish itself with the audience. Destruction AllStars was originally supposed to be one of the launch titles for PlayStation 5 and sold for a price of 80 euros, but after weak interest, plans were changed. The game eventually released in February 2021 at a lower price and was also available through PlayStation Plus.
Even that move did not help it in the long run. Destruction AllStars was envisioned as a colorful multiplayer action game with car battles in the style of a more modern and accessible Twisted Metal, but it failed to retain enough active players.
The shutdown of the game is yet another reminder of the risks of live service projects, especially when it comes to titles that rely on a stable and active online community from the start.
