When Rumbleverse was released last August, you might have mistaken it for one of the many other live-service games that suddenly appeared and were quickly forgotten: think Knockout City, Hyperscape (RIP), and Rocket Arena. It certainly has a distinctive style reminiscent of Fortnite, but unlike Fortnite, it is clearly not popular at all.

Iron Galaxy Studios and publisher Epic Games announced today. 'This project was a labor of love to create a new experience in a popular and competitive genre of gaming. If you were part of that journey, we thank you - whether you jumped into your first playtest after we revealed it or shot yourself out of a cannon for the first time.

Wrestling Battle Royale will go offline on February 28 at 10:00 a.m. AEST (8:00 a.m. GMT, 5:00 a.m. AEST the next day, 2:00 a.m. AEST the next day). All purchases made in connection with the Rumbleverse, including Battle Passes and in-game currency packs, will be refunded. Battle Passes are free for everyone and double the amount of XP earned.

In a separate open letter to the Rumbleverse community, Iron Galaxy opened up a bit, poignantly revealing that the game's failure to establish a large enough player base was a disappointment to the studio." When we work on a video game, we imagine a community that will one day show up to play it. For years we dreamed of a vibrant city full of people fighting to be champions. We strived to create a vibrant place that celebrates the competitive spirit. Our goal was to bring joy back to online multiplayer gaming." The full letter can be read here, and Iron Galaxy also promises to "keep making games."

While Rumbleverse's art style may have made it less noticeable, a fresh take on battle royale was apparent when I actually played the game. This is what Russell Adderson wrote when the game was released last year, noting that "Rumbleverse takes the best elements of playing a wrestling game with friends and puts them straight from the top rope into a Fortnite match."

While that sounds fun, the current live service scene is an absolute bloodbath. So much competition that Ubisoft even canceled its "Ghost Recon" battle royale before it was even released. Publishers are always trying to hit a winner, especially now with competitors like "Fortnite," "Warzone 2," and "Apex Legends," it's like a lottery.