Mountaintop Studios is set to wind down operations following the lackluster reception of their game, Spectre Divide, during its first season. The decision to close comes after the game did not perform as expected, and support for it will cease in the next month, with the studio itself shuttering by week’s end. Spectre Divide initially launched on PC, and its console versions arrived in late February, but unfortunately, neither release garnered the success needed to keep the studio afloat.
The story of Mountaintop Studios began in 2020, when a talented group of game development veterans from renowned companies like Naughty Dog, Respawn, and Epic Games came together. Their first title, Spectre Divide, a free-to-play shooter, promised much potential, launching on platforms like PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. However, despite initial buzz, the game’s mixed reviews at launch sent concerning signals. Just weeks afterward, the studio reduced its workforce by 13 employees in an effort to bolster the long-term viability of the game. Unfortunately, even these efforts couldn’t prevent the eventual demise of both Spectre Divide and its creators.
Nate Mitchell, CEO of Mountaintop Studios, confirmed the studio’s impending closure by March 15, 2025, and mentioned that support for Spectre Divide would wrap up over the following 30 days. He pointed out that the disappointing response to the game’s first season, which debuted on February 25, played a significant role in the decision. The team plans to disable in-game purchases and provide refunds for all player transactions made since the start of Season 1: Flashpoint.
Mitchell explained that while there was initial optimism during Flashpoint’s launch, the season failed to attract enough players or generate sufficient revenue to cover ongoing costs. This announcement came just over two weeks after Spectre Divide’s console debut, marking Mountaintop Studios as another casualty in the list of closures within the games industry for 2025, joining major names like Ubisoft.
Though fans will soon say goodbye to Spectre Divide, there’s still buzz in the online shooter genre. A newcomer called FragPunk has been turning heads with impressive player engagement on Steam. As updates roll out, time will tell if FragPunk can sustain its growing player base and deliver continued interest.
