Stormgate Shifts to Offline-Only Following Server Provider Acquisition
Stormgate's multiplayer modes are scheduled to become offline-only by the end of April. This change follows the acquisition of the game's server provider, Hathora, by Fireworks AI, an artificial intelligence company, which has subsequently led Hathora to discontinue its services for online games. Developer Frost Giant Studios plans to release a patch enabling offline play and intends to restore online functionalities in the future upon securing a new server operations partner.
Stormgate's multiplayer modes are scheduled to become offline-only by the end of April, as its server provider, Hathora, discontinues services for online games following its acquisition by an AI company.
Hathora Acquired by Fireworks AI, Ceases Game Services
Hathora, which provided server infrastructure for Stormgate and other online titles, has been acquired by Fireworks AI. This acquisition marks a significant pivot for the server provider. Fireworks AI intends to reallocate Hathora's resources and infrastructure to focus on "compute orchestration for AI inference at scale."
Following this acquisition, Hathora announced its decision to discontinue services for game companies. Support for game titles is expected to cease within 90 days, prompting developers to find alternative solutions.
Frost Giant Studios' Response and Future Plans
Frost Giant Studios, the developer of Stormgate, has confirmed the impending change. The studio stated that a patch will be released for Stormgate to enable offline play, allowing users to continue accessing game content without online connectivity.
Looking ahead, Frost Giant Studios also expressed its intention to restore online play in a future update. This restoration is contingent on establishing a new partnership for ongoing server operations. The studio has committed to providing further updates regarding offline mode functionality and potential patches before the servers are shut down.
Broader Industry Impact and Transition Partner
Hathora previously supported server infrastructure for a range of online titles, including Splitgate 2 and Predecessor. The acquisition prompts inquiries regarding potential impacts on other games that utilized Hathora's services, such as Splitgate: Arena Reloaded, with reports indicating that 1047 Games has been contacted for comment.
To assist its former clients, Hathora has designated a transition partner. Nitrado's GameFabric server hosting infrastructure has been named as an exclusive transition partner for game studio clients affected by the service discontinuation.