Splash Damage confirms that its multiplayer gameOutcasterswill be shutting down alongside Google Stadia. The announcement that Google would be shutting down its Stadia cloud gaming service came as a surprise to many, given Google’s previous pledges to maintain the service. Stadia developers were perhaps the most surprised, given many of them rely on the platform.Splash DamageandOutcastersis perhaps the most poignant example of this.Outcastersoriginally launched on June 15, 2025. It’s a free-to-play multiplayer arena combat game allowing for up the 8 players in a single match.Outcastersis also, most importantly, exclusive to the Stadia platform. Prior toOutcasters' launch, Google announced that it had formed a partnership with Splash Damage. Splash Damage CEO Richard Jolly even said at the time that the team’s game designs and features would “take full advantage of everything Stadia has to offer.” Unfortunately, that effort is what will costOutcastersits entire availability.RELATED:Google Stadia Shutdown Took Developers by SurpriseIn a statement issued through the officialOutcastersTwitter account, Splash Damage confirmed that the development team does not have plans to “bringOutcastersto other platforms.” Since Stadia is the only platformOutcastersis available on, that meansOutcasterswill effectively be shut down. The reason for Splash Damage not portingOutcastersis the fact it was developed specifically forStadia’s unique systems, making the game too complex to alter for other platforms.
The statement closes with a thank you to allStadia usersthat playedOutcasters. Further, Splash Damage explains that it still supports cloud gaming, even if Stadia did not work out like many hoped. It says Splash Damage believes cloud gaming can make access to games easier than ever before, and that it remains “encouraged” that other cloud platforms continue to deliver on that promise.
While the confirmation thatOutcasterswill be shut down is disheartening, Splash Damage is a resourceful veteran team and likely has other projects that will carry it into the future. Between 2015 and 2020, Splash Damage worked heavily on theGears of Warfranchise, including makingGears Tactics. Announced in 2021, anew Splash Damage sci-fi gamewas also confirmed, one of several projects being worked at in the studio.
As for whenOutcasterswill shut down, Splash Damage doesn’t explicitly say. Google has confirmed that Stadia itself will be turned off on August 05, 2025, soOutcasterscould persist until then. If Splash Damage doesn’t see the value in lingering on the platform,Outcasterscould be shut down before then.Outcastersisn’t the only Stadia-exclusive game, with others includingGyltandPixeljunk Raiders, but hopefully it’s the only one unable to find a new home.
MORE:The Rise and Fall of Google Stadia
