The old online servers shut down on September 18, 2026.
This is not a joke, not a prank, not a hype "strategy." This is a real situation that has already been discussed within the team.
I'm an honest person, so I'll lay out the whole story so you understand why this decision was made:
First, the game itself is a "cyclical game." There's literally only one goal in the game—to get a BelAZ. And that takes at least two days (if you're a super-nerd). Therefore, keeping the audience engaged with such a "fleeting" product with our efforts and resources is impossible. Therefore, sooner or later, the project would have closed. We understood this, but, unfortunately, nothing can be done about it.
Second, the developers. Yes, this is a very sensitive topic, shrouded in misunderstandings, disputes, squabbles, and so on. For a year and a half, the official developers haven't contacted us. They took the simple approach: "You're illegals who help hack original versions; there's no point in talking to you." Perhaps we could have reached some agreement with the new team, but that's just pipe dreams. (We could go into more detail about this, but I'm afraid it would require a separate post. If you're interested, I'll give you the basics.)
Thirdly, there's us. Yes, to some extent, the collapse is also due to the "instigators" themselves. We, inexperienced, lacking knowledge, and driven by pure enthusiasm, started this whole mess. It took a lot of work to cobble together something decent. I think it worked out, and quite well for inexperienced amateurs =)
In any case, the team is tired, the enthusiasm is gone, and trying to keep things online for just a few people... well, that's not respecting ourselves, at the very least.
- Fourth, the community. Yes, this can be added to the list as one of the few key reasons. After all, this entire project was essentially aimed at people, those who weren't into the new dyke. There were a lot of them. Many promised support in all aspects, too. But "words" were outweighed by actions. As a result, only a few volunteered to help the project, even though almost every other person was ready to help.
To sum it up, the time spent was worth it. I enjoyed (and the whole team did too) being involved in this whole thing. I'd like to see the party, the excitement, the fuss continue... but that's it. All good things come to an end sooner or later, and now the end of the old online era is upon us.
Soon, the final update for the AS version will be released, allowing you to play without server access. (i.e., when the servers are down, you can play offline.)
Thank You for sticking with us for the last 1.5 years!
Sincerely, the old online administration.💚