The much-anticipated Transformers: Heavy Metal ceases all operations, including the app and website services this coming August 31st. This news is a huge blow to the AR gaming and Transformers community alike.
We’ve covered Heavy Metal previously, detailing the gameplay. It was being developed by Niantic and Very Very Spaceship in collaboration with Hasbro.
This news, unfortunately, doesn’t come as a big shock—as Niantic announced they were cancelling projects earlier this year—Heavy Metal included. However, the realization is setting in, especially with the cancellation date creeping close.
Transformers: Heavy Metal may have been a titular franchise tie-in, but the developers were full of passion. In the game’s shutdown announcement, they left a heartfelt message and goodbye to the community.
“We grew up with the Transformers on TV, in the movies, and playing with them in our backyards… We’re incredibly proud of the game we’ve made and for the huge support that fans around the world gave us.”
Heavy Metal would’ve had players explore their neighborhood, creating teams out of iconic Autobot heroes, facing off against invading Decepticons. You were tasked with stopping the evil robots from taking over Earth!
The gameplay was a unique, more RPG-focused take on the typical geolocation style we see from Niantic. It also had a fresh combat system that felt more in-depth compared to Pokémon GO.
In light of this news, this isn’t the end for future games from Niantic. They have recently announced a new title being developed in collaboration with the NBA. You can read all about NBA All-World here!
Transformers: Heavy Metal ceasing operations also include taking down the community forums and other website services. The game had released in several countries before the shutting down, including New Zealand and the Philippines.
Very Very Spaceship has announced they will have news for a new project very soon! You can follow them on Twitter, or check out their official website for any updates.
Hopefully, this isn’t the last we’ll see of them. They’ve garnered a strong following from their work with Transformers: Heavy Metal, and the playerbase is devastated about the news.
It’s still unclear what caused the shutdown, and it could be anyone’s guess. We wish VVSpaceship all the best, and leave them with the same words they left their fans: “Stand tall Guardians and may our paths cross amongst the stars once again!”
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