**Square Enix Announces Closure of Final Fantasy VII: Ever Crisis**
Square Enix has announced that *Final Fantasy VII: Ever Crisis*, a gacha title featuring stories from the *Final Fantasy VII* saga, will terminate operations on October 6, 2023. This news was revealed in a statement on the official website of the game by producer Shoichi Ichikawa, who attributed the closure primarily to difficulties in aligning production expenses with player interest in character equipment and items.
Released in 2023 for mobile and PC, *Ever Crisis* offered a simplified iteration of the classic *Final Fantasy VII* gameplay while also exploring new paths with original narratives and characters. The game notably expanded on Sephiroth’s lore and placed the cherished characters of *Final Fantasy VII* into whimsical alternate universe situations, including a high school theme among others.
*Ever Crisis* marks not the first mobile release in the *Final Fantasy VII* series to encounter an early shutdown; Square Enix previously introduced *Final Fantasy VII: The First Soldier* in 2021, which also concluded within two years due to reduced player engagement and rising competition in the gaming market.
In spite of the upcoming shutdown, the development team remains dedicated to providing a wealth of content as the game approaches its end. Players can look forward to the revival of prior events and a concluding story chapter, which Ichikawa assures will serve as a suitable farewell for the game’s community.
