Solana-based multiplayer hero shooter Nyan Heroes has shut down after its developers failed to secure further funding.
The game, developed by 9 Lives Interactive, officially ceased development on May 16. Despite a growing player base and wide interest—including more than one million playtesters and 250,000 wishlist adds across major platforms—Nyan Heroes could not sustain operations.
The shutdown has also had ripple effects across the game’s economy, with sharp declines in the value of its native token and NFTs. Whilst some discussions are ongoing about the future of the studio and its intellectual property, the project’s current status remains inactive.
Why did Nyan Heroes shut down?
According to 9 Lives Interactive, the decision to halt development was driven by an inability to secure sufficient financial support. In a statement on X, the developers cited poor performance in the game’s most recent test phase, which failed to meet player engagement targets.
The studio explored several options to continue development, including publisher partnerships, grant funding, and acquisition talks. However, none of these routes produced the required resources in time. CEO Max Fu later confirmed that funding had effectively run out and that the company was now considering the sale of the studio or its intellectual property.
Nyan Heroes had previously raised $3 million in funding and attracted attention for its use of Unreal Engine 5 and blockchain-integrated assets. The game allowed players to control cats operating large mechanical suits, combining standard shooter mechanics with mobility-focused gameplay. Despite these features and its early popularity, the game was unable to sustain long-term momentum.
What’s next for Nyan Heroes?
9 Lives Interactive has disabled community channels on its Discord server and restricted replies to its final post on X. Whilst the studio has stated that acquisition discussions are ongoing, there is no confirmation of any agreement at this time.
Some fans remain hopeful that a new team might continue development, especially given the assets and work already completed. However, until a deal is made or new funding emerges, Nyan Heroes remains inactive.
Following the announcement, the game’s $NYAN token lost more than 40% of its value in a matter of hours. The token now trades nearly 99% below its historical peak. In-game NFTs, including the Genesis Cat collection, also saw significant devaluation, with prices dropping by over 70% and a current floor price around 0.01 SOL on the Magic Eden marketplace.
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