Some franchises feel too big to fail. These are usually billion-dollar brands that have legendary characters and fanbases that span decades. So when those same names show up on mobile, success should be a sure thing… right? Not exactly. Over the years, countless major IPs have tried to crack the mobile market, and not all of them survived. Some launched into controversy. Others quietly shut down after struggling to build an audience. A few never even made it out of development. That said, here are 25 big-name franchises that flopped on mobile.
25. Apex Legends Mobile
Respawn’s slick, fast-paced battle royale, Apex Legends Mobile, actually played great. It was a surprisingly faithful adaptation, and offered players smooth controls and mobile-exclusive content. However, weak monetization and low player engagement led to its shutdown less than a year after launch.
(Image Credit: Electronic Arts)
24. Harry Potter: Wizards Unite
Built by the studio behind Pokémon GO, Niantic, Harry Potter: Wizards Unite was an AR wizarding game that had extremely high expectations given the expansive nature of the IP. Unfortunately, repetitive gameplay and franchise fatigue kept it from catching any momentum. The game's service was officially ended in November 2021.
(Image Credit: Niantic)
23. Battlefield Mobile
Another EA game on this list is Battlefield Mobile. They aimed to bring the franchise's signature large-scale warfare to phones, but development hurdles and shifting priorities abruptly led to its cancellation before a global release in early 2023.
(Image Credit: Electronic Arts)
22. Final Fantasy VII: The First Soldier
Final Fantasy VII: The First Soldier was a battle royale prequel set in the long-standing FF7 universe. It was an ambitious project built on Unreal Engine 4, and had bold magic and firearms. But it failed to build long-term momentum and shut down roughly a year after release.
(Image Credit: Square Enix)
21. Mighty Doom
Mighty Doom was a roguelite shooter that was a spin-off of Doom. Featuring cartoon-styled animation and top-down gameplay, it was actually a lot of fun. Ultimately, however, the game never felt like it caught on. This led to the game shutting down in 2024 after the developers, Alpha Dog Games, closed. Mighty Doom had a lot of potential, for sure, but it just wasn't given enough time to grow.
(Image Credit: Alpha Dog Games)
20. The Witcher: Monster Slayer
CD Projekt’s attempt at a Witcher-themed AR hunting experience leaned into darker, more hardcore mechanics. The game, set as a prequel to the main Witcher series, saw players take on the role of a witcher who needs to explore the world to gather useful resources and battle monsters. In the end, The Witcher: Monster Slayer was shut down in 2023 after it was deemed not to "live up to business expectations."
(Image Credit: Spokko)
19. Just Cause Mobile
Square Enix tried to shrink the explosive sandbox chaos of the Just Cause series into a mobile-friendly format. It was described as a free-to-play shooter with a top-down perspective. However, after delays in Just Cause Mobile's development roadmap and limited regional testing, the project was ultimately scrapped before a proper worldwide debut.
(Image Credit: Square Enix)
18. Assassin's Creed Rebellion
Assassin's Creed Rebellion is a strategy RPG that gathers assassins from across the series and places them in one game. While charming at first with its chibi-like animation, the game's repetitive missions and shallow progression kept it from matching the sort of hype that is present in the mainline franchise. It is still available to download and play today.
(Image Credit: Ubisoft)
17. The Elder Scrolls: Blades
Marketed as a full Elder Scrolls experience on mobile and the Nintendo Switch, The Elder Scrolls: Blades delivered dungeon crawling, RPG action, and town-building mechanics. But the game's simplified one-on-one combat and limited exploration left many players underwhelmed.
(Image Credit: Bethesda)
16. Marvel Realm of Champions
Marvel Realm of Champions started with a huge amount of potential, as it promised a free-to-play Marvel-themed MOBA with unique character designs. However, stiff competition and rather tame engagement led to its shutdown within two years of its release.
(Image Credit: Kabam)
15. Rogue Company Elite
Designed as a mobile spin-off of Rogue Company, Rogue Company Elite was a third-person tactical shooter that sadly never found a solid footing. It was quietly shut down before it could even get a full release.
(Image Credit: Hi-Rez Studios)
14. Command & Conquer: Rivals
EA tried to streamline the franchise's RTS gameplay into quick PvP matches, but longtime fans felt Command & Conquer: Rivals sacrificed a lot of depth with its strategy. The result was a game that struggled to escape the shadow of its predecessors.
(Image Credit: Electronic Arts)
13. Crash Bandicoot: On the Run!
Crash Bandicoot: On the Run! was an endless runner mobile game that had gameplay similar to Subway Surfers and Temple Run. It featured colorful designs and decent controls. The game also topped the charts when it was initially released. Unfortunately, the game was discontinued in 2023.
(Image Credit: King)
12. Tom Clancy's Elite Squad
Ubisoft combined characters from across the Tom Clancy universe into a squad-based RPG that was titled Tom Clancy's Elite Squad. However, controversial imagery at launch and mixed reception from players prevented it from building any sort of lasting momentum. It was eventually shelved in 2021.
(Image Credit: Ubisoft)
11. DC Unchained
Featuring Batman, Superman, and other famous characters, DC Unchained looked promising. It was stylized as a 3D action mobile game with action-packed battles. But monetization issues and a lack of depth resulted in the game only having a rather short lifespan that we were, quite frankly, disappointed to see.
(Image Credit: FourThirtyThree)
10. Star Wars: Force Arena
Star Wars: Force Arena was a real-time PvP strategy game featuring iconic Star Wars heroes and villains. Despite the incredibly powerful IP spanning decades and the game receiving positive reviews, its multiplayer action failed to stand out in the long-term. The game was eventually shut down in early 2019.
(Image Credit: Netmarble)
9. Sonic Runners
Sonic seemed perfect for an endless running mobile game. We've seen success with other games of a similar nature. Yet even SEGA’s iconic mascot couldn’t keep the momentum going long-term, as it heavily leaned into pay-to-win elements and featured lots of pop-up ads. There was also a legion of bugs that constantly plagued the game. Sonic Runners was discontinued in 2016.
(Image Credit: SEGA)
8. NBA All-World
Niantic tried to replicate its AR success from Pokémon GO with NBA All-World. This time, it would feature real-world basketball challenges and a slightly creative appearance. Regardless, the game failed to spark sustained player interest, with the game launching in early 2023 before quickly shutting down in the same year.
(Image Credit: Niantic)
7. Hitman Sniper: The Shadows
Hitman Sniper: The Shadows attempted to expand on the IP's formula with new characters, multiplayer elements, and a tactical shooter experience. However, it never captured the same magic despite offering a decent progression system and exciting combat. It was shut down in early 2023.
(Image Credit: Square Enix Montreal)
6. Resident Evil Survival Unit
Capcom’s attempt to bring Resident Evil into the mobile strategy space trades its classic survival horror experience for base-building mechanics and squad management. While the brand name carries serious weight, longtime fans looking for atmospheric horror may find the experience in Resident Evil Survival Unit a bit too detached from what makes the franchise special.
(Image Credit: Capcom)
5. Gears POP!
Gears POP! was an interesting mash-up between Gears of War and Funko’s collectible aesthetic that certainly raised a few eyebrows. The real-time strategy PvP battler was accessible but niche — even though it modeled its gameplay to Clash Royale. Its novelty wore off quickly, leading to its eventual shutdown in 2021.
(Image Credit: Mediatonic / The Coalition)
4. The Walking Dead: Our World
The Walking Dead: Our World was an AR shooter based on the hit TV series that leaned heavily into location-based AR mechanics, team-based elements, and survivor rescue missions. However, interest in the game faded once the novelty of largely AR-based games wore off.
(Image Credit: AMC)
3. Deus Ex GO
Deus Ex GO was critically well-received and extremely stylish. It featured turn-based puzzles, Adam Jensen as the main protagonist, and a cyberpunk-themed appearance. But commercial performance didn’t justify long-term support, and it became a victim of Square Enix’s mobile restructuring.
(Image Credit: Square Enix Montreal)
2. Star Wars: Commander
Star Wars: Commander was a Star Wars-inspired mobile game that was released in 2014 during the height of the base-builder genre, with the likes of Clash of Clans performing incredibly well. Star Wars: Commander saw moderate success early on, but over time, competition and ageing mechanics led to the game's closure.
(Image Credit: NaturalMotion / Disney Mobile)
1. The Simpsons: Tapped Out
Once one of mobile’s biggest hits, The Simpsons: Tapped Out ran with its unique city-building gameplay for over a decade. But, like other titles that started in the early 2010s, the game suffered from aging mechanics and updates that took too long to be deployed. This eventually resulted in its relevance and enjoyment going down. The Simpsons: Tapped Out still had its group of passionate players, so it was a sad day when it was shut down in early 2025.
(Image Credit: Electronic Arts)
Some franchises feel too big to fail. These are usually billion-dollar brands that have legendary characters and fanbases that span decades. So when those same names show up on mobile, success should be a sure thing… right? Not exactly. Over the years, countless major IPs have tried to crack the mobile market, and not all of them survived. Some launched into controversy. Others quietly shut down after struggling to build an audience. A few never even made it out of development. That said, here are 25 big-name franchises that flopped on mobile.
