Amazon Game Studios has announced that its live-service co-op game King of Meat will shut down on April 9, 2026. The online-only game, developed by Glowmade, launched on October 31, 2025, and despite significant promotion, struggled to attract a sustainable player base. Players who purchased the game will receive full refunds in the coming weeks.
In a statement, Amazon acknowledged the efforts of Glowmade and thanked the community for supporting the game, noting that the decision to end service reflects the game’s inability to reach the expected audience. Until the servers are turned off, players can continue to access and play all existing content.
Marketing Efforts Couldn’t Drive Player Engagement
King of Meat received considerable attention prior to its launch. The game was featured at Gamescom Opening Night Live in August 2024 with an animated trailer, and YouTube creator MrBeast participated in a promotional tournament showcasing the game. Amazon and Glowmade reportedly aimed for around 100,000 concurrent players on Steam at launch, but the game never exceeded 400 on Steam and remained below 1,000 across all platforms.
Despite these promotional efforts, low engagement led to internal restructuring at Glowmade as early as December 2025. The February announcement of the shutdown was widely anticipated given the limited player numbers and the broader challenges of sustaining new live-service titles.
Live-Service Games Facing Ongoing Challenges
The closure of King of Meat is consistent with a broader trend in the live-service sector. Many online-only games struggle to maintain long-term audiences, often shutting down within a year of release. Notable examples include Sony’s multiplayer shooter Concord, which was discontinued just two weeks after launch in 2024, and Amazon’s own online shooter Crucible, which was canceled shortly after release. Even the MMO New World has faced declining numbers since its peak.
The live-service model remains appealing to publishers due to its potential for recurring revenue, but the market is increasingly competitive and risky. Only a few established games continue to thrive years after release, making it difficult for new titles to gain traction. The shutdown of King of Meat highlights the ongoing challenge of launching and sustaining live-service games in the current industry environment.
Looking Ahead for Glowmade and Players
While the closure is a setback for Glowmade, Amazon’s refund policy ensures that players are not financially affected. The studio’s future projects may benefit from lessons learned during the short lifespan of King of Meat. For the player community, the April 9 shutdown marks the end of access to the game, but it also allows time to experience the remaining content and engage with fellow players before the servers go offline.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
When will King of Meat servers shut down?
King of Meat servers will permanently close on April 9, 2026.
Will players receive a refund?
Yes, all players who purchased the game will receive a full refund in the weeks following the announcement.
Why is King of Meat shutting down?
Amazon and Glowmade cited low player engagement as the primary reason for ending the game’s live service.
Can players still access the game before the shutdown?
Yes, all existing content will remain accessible until April 9, 2026.
Who developed King of Meat?
The game was developed by Glowmade, a UK-based studio, and published by Amazon Game Studios.
Is this common for live-service games?
Yes, many live-service games struggle to maintain long-term audiences and often shut down within a year of release.
Were there major promotions for King of Meat?
Yes, the game had a trailer at Gamescom Opening Night Live and a promotional event with YouTube creator MrBeast, but these efforts did not translate into sustained player engagement.
