Zynga has announced that it will be shutting downFarmVilleat the end of this year. The popular Facebook game will continue to be playable until December 31st, 2020. In-app purchases will continue to be available up until November 17. In-game activities will also be available to mark the occasion. Zynga’s decision is a result of Adobe’s own move tostop distributing and updating Flash Playerfor all web browsers and Facebook consequently planning to end support for all Flash games.
In a blog post, Zynga thanked the community who have stuck by the game for 11 years.FarmVillewas released on June 19th, 2009 and has gone on to have sequels inFarmVille 2,FarmVille 2: Country Escape,FarmVille 2: Tropic Escape, and the upcomingFarmVille 3. The Facebook game is both fondly remembered and infamous for its addictive gameplay requiring players to ask friends for help, filling up many users' notifications. At its peak in March 2010, the game had 83.76 million monthly active users, but continued to decline in popularity after 2011.
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ThoughFarmVilleremains the most nostalgic IP for Zynga, the American social game developer has continued to expand its library of games over the years with the acquisition of several companies and their properties. Earlier this year,Zynga acquired Peak Gamesfor $1.8 billion. The latter company, based in Istanbul, Turkey, is known forToon BlastandToy Blast.
Ultimately, the loss of the originalFarmVillewill be only a minor blip on Zynga’s radar. The San Francisco, California-based company saw considerable growth this year despite (or perhaps due to) the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,with Zynga stock being up 55.9%.
Zynga has also worked on licensed games withHarry Potter: Puzzles & Spellsbeing releasedearlier this week. The Match-3 puzzle game utilizes theHarry Potteraesthetic and license and is available on mobile devices. While it may not be even close to satisfyingHarry Potterfans untilHogwarts Legacycomes out, it could pass enough time until then.
Though mobile gaming does have its detractors due to its typically simplistic gameplay and monetization of game mechanics which can exploit children and those with addictive personalities, the industry remains highly profitable due its accessibility and ease of development. Mobile games have also advanced far in the past decade, with games likePokemon GOandHarry Potter: Wizards Unitedemonstrating the power of augmented reality on the platform for a unique experience. Mobile versions of console/PC games likeFortniteandCall of Dutyexhibit the increased power of smartphones.
