Oh! After 12 years, EA is shutting down mobile city builder The Simpsons: Tapped Out.
Frankly, 12 years is an incredible run for a fairly niche mobile game based on The Simpsons, and according to EA, there have been a staggering 308 updates, 831 characters, and 1,463 questlines based on the show.
“The decision to end our twelve-year journey is an emotional one,” EA said on Facebook. “Together with our partners at The Simpsons and The Walt Disney Company, we are thrilled to bring this game to you, the fans, and see how each of you have built your own beloved versions of Springfield.”
Tapped Out allows you to create and maintain your own version of the Simpson family's fictional hometown of Springfield, Illinois. It hasn't done much to revolutionize the city builder genre; You take on quests and complete levels to collect more characters and buildings to rebuild your city, thus unlocking more quests and levels, and so on. The in-game economy uses cash as a free, non-premium currency, and naturally, you donate as a premium currency that you can purchase with real-world money.
In fact, the most notable thing about Tapped Out is that it has lasted so long. Released in 2012, it's in the same league as some of the longest-running mobile games in history, including Candy Crush (2012), Roblox (2012 on iOS and 2014 on Android), and Temple Run (2011). But at last, The Simpsons: Tapped Out is finally coming to an end, and I'll go ahead and accept the award for most original joke, thank you very much.
This week we'll talk about what's hot, what's hot, and what's next in the world of mobile gaming for Mobile Gaming Week 2024.