POST-LAUNCH SUPPORT AUDIT · VERIFIED

Knockout City

Velan Studios · 2021 · Multiplayer dodgeball

Did the studio keep supporting this game after launch? This page is the evidence. Carried by Mods

AFTERCARE SCORE 71 Tier C · Promising Pattern: Steady

See it on SteamStore link opens Steam in a new tab.

LAUNCH CONDITIONMixed

AFTERCARE PATTERNSteady

AUDIT STATUSVerified

A short-lived live service whose graceful, preservation-focused shutdown sets the industry standard for how to end a game.

01Score breakdown

Patch speed15 / 20

Maintenance quality13 / 20

Communication18 / 20

Player responsiveness16 / 20

Follow-through9 / 20

Five categories, 20 points each, 100 total. Full method on the methodology page.

02The evidence

Knockout City launched May 21, 2021 with strong reviews and 2 million players in its first week, then moved from EA publishing to self-published free-to-play in June 2022. Nine seasons of steady content followed before Velan announced the shutdown in February 2023 with four months notice. The two year run ended June 6, 2023 with a farewell event and a free PC private-server edition so the game lives on.

Launch-day Xbox crashes were acknowledged on social media the same morning and fixed the same day, with cross-progression players advised to play on other platforms meanwhile.
Velan shipped nine seasons of new maps, balls, playlists and cosmetics across two years, including TMNT crossovers, before announcing the planned end.
The shutdown was announced four months ahead with a video message from the game director, a detailed FAQ, and a delivered free private-server edition for Windows.
Season 9 removed all real-money transactions, flooded players with free Holobux, doubled rewards, sold the premium pass for 50 earnable Holobux, and ran a $25,000 farewell tournament.

03Sources

01'Make a private hosted version of your game': Knockout City dev's top tip for studios shutting down a live service gameArchival reportingVisit 02Knockout City to shut down in JuneArchival reportingVisit 03Knockout City parts ways with EA and goes free-to-playArchival reportingVisit 04Knockout City Goes Live, Immediately Breaks On Xbox [Update: FIXED]Archival reportingVisit 05Knockout CityArchival reportingVisit 06TheSixthAxis: Knockout City shutting down, PC private servers will help it live onPress reportVisit 07VGC: Knockout City dev says closing games should get private hosted versions (GDC 2024)Press reportVisit 08Knockout City: Private Server Edition (Steam)Game database entryVisit

CCCarried by Mods

When Velan shut down the only servers for an online only game, players kept it alive themselves on private servers, with a community built launcher and tournaments they run and fund on their own.

PLAYABLE TODAY

Only on Windows PC through the free Private Server Edition and community hosted servers, while the PlayStation, Xbox and Switch versions have been unplayable since the June 2023 shutdown.

This badge marks games kept alive by their community after official support fell short. It never changes the developer's score above.

04Audit record

Launch date: May 21, 2021
Evidence coverage through: Jun 6, 2023
Methodology: v1.0
Audit confidence: Medium
Why this confidence: Shutdown events are corroborated across five opened press sources and the timeline is well documented. Mid-life patch cadence is less thoroughly covered, so scores lean on the well-evidenced launch and sunset windows.
Score band: Promising (Tier C)

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