[Shutdown] ByteDance-backed otome game "Ling Mao Zhuan" announces server closure and cancellation of Qixi festival event

Recently, the ancient-style otome game "Ling Mao Zhuan" (under ByteDance's publishing arm) announced its closure, leaving many players heartbroken. Launched in late 2020, the game was known for its refined art and character design. However, the developers revealed that due to severe staff departures and ongoing financial losses, they were forced to cancel their Qixi Festival event and plan for a full shutdown.

The project team handled the announcement with unusual transparency. They committed to finishing the birthday events for characters Qi Qinghe and An Ge, as well as completing the main storyline before the servers went down. They also distributed compensation and promised to transfer operations to "Youmeng Chuxin" in hopes of preserving player data, acknowledging the legal and technical hurdles ahead.

Reactions from the community were mixed. Long-time players expressed grief over losing their favorite characters like An Ge. Meanwhile, casual players (or "huanger"—those who hop between new games briefly) commented on the short lifespan of mobile games in the current market. Some even speculated on the fate of other games from the same publisher, questioning if they would be next.