The EMBER token associated with the game has seen a drastic decline in value, with a market cap of only $82,000, representing a drop of over 99% from its peak valuation.

The game launched in early access on December 2, 2024, and was playable on both PC and mobile devices before its abrupt shutdown.

Development of Ember Sword began in 2018, and it was designed to offer a non pay-to-win environment with both PvE and PvP activities, utilizing its own cryptocurrency, Ember Tokens, for trading.

Ember Sword, a blockchain MMORPG developed by Bright Star Studios, officially shut down on May 25, 2025, despite raising over $203 million through NFT land sales since its launch in 2018.

Backers who purchased virtual land plots were left unable to use them, as the feature was not implemented before the game's closure, and there was no mention of refunds in the shutdown notice.

The game faced significant criticism during its beta tests, with users expressing dissatisfaction over its visuals and mechanics, which contributed to negative reviews and a sense of inevitability regarding its shutdown.

Bright Star Studios expressed gratitude to the community for their support, acknowledging that they explored all possible avenues to continue the project but ultimately could not find a viable path forward.

In their announcement, the developers cited challenges in securing funding and a difficult market for gaming projects as reasons for the game's closure.

Despite previous investment successes, including a $2 million round in 2021, the studio ultimately could not secure the necessary funding to sustain operations.

The game had raised approximately $2 million in venture capital alongside $203.785 million from nearly 35,000 individual land sales, highlighting the initial promise of the project.

Ember Sword's closure follows the recent announcement that another Ethereum-based game, The Walking Dead: Empires, will also shut down later this year.

With the game's closure, all servers and Discord channels related to Ember Sword will be shut down to prevent confusion and scams, marking the end of its journey.