Bandai Namco Announces Naruto X Boruto Ninja Voltage EOS

Bandai Namco has announced the closure of its fortress strategy RPG, Naruto X Boruto Ninja Voltage. This isn't unexpected for many players, mirroring the fate of other Naruto gacha games like Naruto Blazing, which faced similar challenges and ultimately shut down.

The game's final curtain call is set for December 9th, 2024, concluding a nearly seven-year run. Players can continue enjoying the game until then, with several upcoming events planned. These include the Village Leader World Championship (October 8th-18th), an All-Out Mission (October 18th-November 1st), and a final "Thanks For Everything" campaign (November 1st-December 1st). Players can still collect cards, participate in summons, and utilize in-game items until the shutdown. Spending any saved Gold Coins is advised.

The game's decline appears to stem from a shift in game mechanics. While initially praised for its balanced village building and defense system, the introduction of Minato and subsequent power creep alienated many players. This, coupled with increasingly overt pay-to-win mechanics, reduced free-to-play rewards, and the near-disappearance of multiplayer features, contributed to the game's eventual demise. While still available on the Google Play Store, the writing was on the wall for many players. The game's closure serves as a cautionary tale in the gacha game landscape.