Shelf-Life Beta
Shutdown Watch / Issue 3
Ultimechs goes single-player, and a US bill on owning the games you buy
Shutdown Watch · 19 October 2026
Two more games join the list this week: Ultimechs loses multiplayer on 20 October, and Madden NFL 24 goes offline next April. Plus a US congressman's plan to protect game ownership.
Coming up
Ultimechs: 20 October
Resolution Games ends multiplayer for its free-to-play VR sports game on 20 October and removes it from Steam and the Meta Horizon Store the same day. It stays playable in single-player, and coins already bought can still be spent.
Details · Source: Resolution Games
The New Denpa Men: 7 December
Genius Sonority switches off the free-to-play Switch and mobile game on 7 December. Paid item sales have already stopped, and unused paid Jewels will be refunded.
Details · Source: Genius Sonority
Physical copies and ownership
A US bill on owning the games you buy
New York congressman Ritchie Torres says he will introduce the Power To The Players Act, which would have the US Federal Trade Commission write rules on game ownership, including an offline mode before an online game is switched off. It has been announced but not yet formally introduced.
Source: PC Gamer
Retro handhelds with preloaded games
The Entertainment Software Association has asked the US Trade Representative to add handhelds sold with memory cards full of unlicensed games to its annual Notorious Markets list. Its submission names the maker Anbernic.
Source: VGC