"10 Years of Spending Real Money, What Now?" Fans Outcry Over Kardashian Game Shutdown

Service Ends in April... No Refund Notice
Various Misconduct Occurs in Game Ahead of Closure

Kim Kardashian's mobile game, which was launched under her name, is set to end its service in April, sparking dissatisfaction among fans who have played for over a decade. In particular, complaints are spreading due to the lack of announcements regarding refunds for in-game currency.

Kim Kardashian [Image source=Kim Kardashian SNS]

On the 21st, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that petitions demanding an extension of the mobile game 'Kim Kardashian: Hollywood' and social media posts requesting reconsideration of the termination decision are pouring in from fans.

Known as the 'Kardashian game,' this game is a nurturing game jointly launched in 2014 by Kardashian and game developer Glu Mobile. As the name suggests, the game allows players to turn Kardashian's character into a celebrity, with Kardashian herself involved in the overall development, from costumes to story progression. If the character is well nurtured, players can start as a clothing store clerk and eventually become a fashion entrepreneur owning stores worldwide, including in the U.S., Paris, and New Delhi, and even travel around the world on a private jet.

The mobile game 'Kim Kardashian: Hollywood', which will end its service this April. (Photo by Glu)

The game gained sensational popularity after its release because it allowed players to experience a lifestyle similar to Kardashian's. It earned $74.3 million (99.1 billion KRW) within six months of launch, and to date, it has been downloaded 59 million times. Time magazine even ranked the Kardashian game character as the second most influential virtual character in 2014, following Elsa from Frozen.

However, last month Glu announced that the service would end on April 8. The game is no longer available for download on the App Store, and microtransactions for purchasing in-game currency have been blocked.

Notice of the end of the Kardashian game. (Photo by X account @Mayaishere13)

Users have fallen into complete panic. Gamers have been interviewed by the media, asking what will happen to the money they have spent on microtransactions over the past 10 years. A TikTok video expressing grief over the game's termination has even surpassed 8 million views.

Houston resident Mabelin, 34, who posted the video, said, "This game has been a part of my life every day for 10 years. I dressed my avatar in the morning before going to work, and played the game whenever I had free time after putting my kids to bed." She added, "I have spent about $5,000 (6.67 million KRW) on this game. I don't regret spending it because it brought me joy." However, she lamented, "My only regret is that I used a Christmas gift card from my husband to buy in-game currency just days before the termination announcement. If I had known about the service ending, I wouldn't have done that."

Above all, Glu has yet to issue any notice regarding refunds for in-game currency, drawing criticism from users. One user posted on X, "I'm so depressed about the game ending. Can't Kardashian herself refund my in-game currency? She has enough money to do that," gaining much sympathy.

In-game Kim Kardashian character. (Photo by Kim Kardashian: Hollywood official account)

As the April shutdown approaches, all sorts of events are unfolding within the game. WSJ reported, "Players are losing their hard-earned digital assets like drunken sailors." Users maintaining virtual marriages with other characters are cheating with multiple partners, and some are squandering money at the in-game casino, engaging in all kinds of deviant behavior. On Kardashian's X (formerly Twitter), pleas of "Please don't shut it down" are flooding in.

Regarding the business closure, Kim Kardashian stated, "This business has meant a lot to me, but I have realized it is time to channel that energy elsewhere," adding, "I will forever be inspired by the community we built together."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.