TL;DR
- Delabs Games will permanently shut down Ragnarok Libre on February 12.
- The Telegram idle game peaked at 35,000 daily users but could not retain players.
- Its dedicated DELABS token lost 92% of its trading volume before the closure.
Delabs Games shut down Ragnarok Libre on January 12, giving players exactly one month to wrap up progress before servers close permanently on February 12. The idle RPG launched last summer as a Telegram-based reimagining of Ragnarok Online, letting characters level automatically while users made quick gear and quest choices daily. It targeted mobile gamers wanting casual play with blockchain rewards.
The game debuted alongside DELABS token, designed to fuel economies across the studio’s titles. Early sign-ups earned token airdrops tied to playtime, drawing thousands with nostalgic monsters and simplified classes. Yet momentum faded fast. Despite updates like expanded tower challenges, player retention dropped sharply as crypto gaming cooled industry-wide. Token incentives failed to offset declining engagement.
The shutdown announcement froze new accounts and in-game purchases immediately. Existing players now focus on farewell events or cashing out remaining assets. Delabs cited Web3 portfolio adjustments as the reason, admitting the project couldn’t sustain long-term operations despite their token integration strategy.
Ephemeral spin-offs shadow classic franchises
Ragnarok Libre joins a pattern of short-lived mobile adaptations. The original MMORPG remains popular, but spin-offs struggle against crowded app stores and fickle audiences. Players migrate to similar idle games, carrying memories of guild raids and loot hunts across Midgard’s digital landscapes.
The DELABS token became a cautionary symbol. Initially promoted as the game’s economic backbone, its utility shrank as player numbers fell. Analysts note the studio overemphasized financial rewards over core gameplay—airdrops attracted users, but shallow mechanics couldn’t retain them. Delabs Games didn’t cancel other projects, suggesting this was a targeted cut, yet the abrupt one-month notice sparked criticism over asset withdrawal difficulties.
Studios leverage beloved licenses for quick launches but lack resources to match traditional mobile titles in depth or longevity. Ragnarok Libre simplified a complex world, yet its hybrid model—mixing idle mechanics with token rewards—pleased neither hardcore fans nor crypto speculators.
Daily active users peaked at 35,000 shortly after launch but fell below 5,000 by December 2025. Concurrent logins rarely exceeded 200 in its final weeks. Meanwhile, DELABS token trading volume collapsed 92% from its August high, signaling lost confidence.
Nostalgia alone can’t sustain projects without technical polish and clear utility for tokens. Delabs prioritized speed to market over scalability, paying the price in player trust. Competitors now watch closely: similar Telegram-based RPGs like Pixel Heroes report increased sign-ups as displaced Ragnarok fans seek alternatives.
Servers will dim on February 12, erasing guilds, inventories, and unfinished quests. The core lesson echoes beyond this game: in crypto gaming, tokenomics must serve gameplay—not replace it. Studios chasing viral growth through airdrops risk building empires on sand.
Ragnarok Libre’s legacy isn’t its tech or tokens, but a reminder that even iconic worlds need substance to survive. As one player wrote in a community forum: “We didn’t lose a game. We lost a promise.” Delabs must now prove its next projects learn from this collapse. The industry’s credibility depends on delivering more than fleeting hype.
