Operating online game servers can be expensive, leading publishers to shut them down when player numbers dwindle. For example, Forza Horizon 4 was removed from Xbox Game Pass on December 15, 2023. Upcoming closures of The Golf Club, The Golf Club 2, and NCAA Football 14 in early 2025 will result in 17 achievements becoming inaccessible. This trend, sparking frustration among gaming communities, is prompting calls for offline modes, though no solutions have been offered yet.
Operating online game servers can be a costly endeavor, and when titles lose their player base, publishers often make the tough decision to shut them down. For instance, on December 15, Forza Horizon 4 was taken off the shelves and removed from Xbox Game Pass, making it impossible to purchase the game or its expansions. This trend will affect three additional games starting in early 2025.
Upcoming Server Shutdowns in Early 2025
If you’re someone who loves to collect achievements, now is the time to wrap up your tasks in these games, as certain achievements will vanish when their servers go offline.
- The Golf Club (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One): Server shutdown scheduled for February 28, 2025. The option to buy premium currency will end on December 20, 2024, and after the servers are shut down, 6 achievements will no longer be obtainable. It’s worth noting that this title has already been pulled from digital stores, so it’s only available in physical format.
- The Golf Club 2 (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One): Server shutdown on February 28, 2025. Similar to its predecessor, the ability to purchase premium currency has been disabled, and it can no longer be found in digital stores. After the shutdown, 4 achievements will be out of reach.
- NCAA Football 14 (Xbox 360 – not backward compatible): The server will cease operations on March 13, 2025, leading to the loss of 7 achievements. To complete this game, you’ll need access to an Xbox 360, as it is not compatible with newer consoles.
In total, players will lose access to 17 online achievements as a result of these shutdowns. Notably, NCAA Football 14 already has one achievement that is abandoned and another that is only partially obtainable. If you haven’t unlocked these before the server closure, they’re permanently out of reach.
The Growing Trend of Server Closures
As previously highlighted, server shutdowns are becoming a regular occurrence, much to the frustration of dedicated gaming communities who find themselves deprived of online experiences, including achievements and multiplayer modes. This decision by publishers has sparked intense discussions, particularly since players invested significant money in these games. Many are calling for offline modes to be implemented to prolong the life of their favorite titles, but as of now, those requests have gone unanswered.
Before the year wraps up, two more titles will say goodbye: Friday the 13th: The Game and NBA 2K23, both of which are relatively new. These removals will also result in the loss of 62 achievements combined from both games.
Meanwhile, a new game that bridges the worlds of Lego and Horizon is gaining attention and could soon make its way to Xbox, a development that may have significant ramifications!