The Japanese servers for the entire LittleBigPlanet game series – that’s the original, LBP2, LBP3, LBP Karting, Portable & Vita – are being shut down on July 31, it’s been announced.
The news comes via a series of Service Update posts on the Japanese PlayStation website. One might perhaps understand the reason to kill the servers for the PS3, and the portable titles, but a particular oddity here is the inclusion of PlayStation 4’s LittleBigPlanet 3, a game which only launched in December 2014.
The shut down means you’ll no longer be able to share levels, or play those created by other users – the series’ biggest selling point. Nothing’s been announced regarding closure of the NA and EU servers.
Update: Turns out that LBP PSP is being shut down on July 31st worldwide, and LBP Karting servers are being shut down in North America (at least) on August 31st.
Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, via NeoGAF
TSBonyman
Surprising LBP3 is included. I should probably go and download some of the better levels before they disappear for good, NA and EU are sure to follow.
XPH
None of the source links work.
Stefan L
Apologies. Fixed.
ron_mcphatty
Very weird. I hope this isn’t some sort of a bad omen for Media Mollecule.
Amphlett
Talking of MM, what happened to their creation game thing they announced a year or so ago and no on really understood the point of?
cam_manutd
Dreams? They showed it at Paris last year and have been quiet since. Expect to see more of it with the end of year conferences.
cam_manutd
Can’t see the same happening for EU and NA anytime soon. The games still pull a lot of numbers. LBP 1 has been consistent among the most played ps3 online games. That being said, I have seen stranger game shutdowns and premature ones too (cough Resistance and Motorstorm).
JR.
I hope the EU servers don’t go the same way. My levels still get regular plays so hopefully they wont be going anywhere soon.
Crazy_Del
Wow LBP 3?!?!? So LBP 1 lasted longer than LBP 3
So weird! I’d assume LBP1/2 to close but 3 to remain for years