Bandai Namco has announced that Sword Art Online Variant Showdown (SAO VS) will permanently shut down on October 30, 2025, for both Android and iOS.
The game originally launched in November 2022 but was plagued with bugs, balance issues, and long-term service challenges. After entering an extended maintenance period in September 2023, the game saw a re-release in December 2024 following redevelopment. Unfortunately, the revival was short-lived.
Despite Redevelopment, the End Is Here
Sword Art Online Variant Showdown is an action RPG inspired by the hit anime. It featured:
- Real-time PvP battles using ability cards.
- Multiple story quests, including Main Story, Side Stories, and Extra Stories.
- Avatar customization to reflect personal playstyles.
In a statement posted on X (Twitter), the team explained:
“We ultimately decided to discontinue the service after concluding that it would be difficult to continue providing a satisfying player experience.”
Despite daily efforts to improve the game since launch, the issues proved too difficult to resolve fully.
Offline Edition Will Preserve the Game
To ease the transition, Bandai Namco is releasing an Offline Edition:
- Available via Ver 3.0.0 update.
- Will include all quests from the re-release and selected Unlimited Dungeon floors.
- Players can migrate their data until January 29, 2026.
Meanwhile, premium currency sales (Variant Crystals) have already been disabled. Online services will officially end on August 30, but the full shutdown will occur on October 30, 2025.
The game is currently hosting a finale campaign featuring Events, Scouts, Main Story, and Ultimate Battles before service termination.
A Hopeful Revival That Didn’t Last
The shutdown marks a disappointing end for what was once a promising title. Despite its re-release and redevelopment, long-standing problems such as bugs, system instability, and its gacha monetization model hindered the game’s success.
While players will still be able to experience SAO VS in offline form, its early closure underscores the challenges of sustaining long-term live service games—even with a beloved IP like Sword Art Online.
