Last year, ARMYs faced heartbreak when one of their favorite mobile games shut down.
BTS World discontinued its service at the end of December, becoming the second BTS-themed game to become discontinued following SuperStar BTS.
#SuperStarBTS 서비스 종료
자세한 내용은 게임 내 상세 페이지를 확인해주세요.#SuperStarBTS End of Service
Please check the in-game notice for details. pic.twitter.com/ZRTuMTLOI9— SuperStar BTS (@SuperStarBTStwt) May 7, 2020
BTS World’s official forum shared an English statement ahead of the discontinuation, with Netmarble announcing the conclusion of the game’s services. The game quickly became no longer downloadable from either the Play Store or App Store.
Hello, this is the BTS WORLD MANAGER.
Thank you for your love and support for BTS WORLD.
This announcement is to inform you that BTS WORLD will be discontinuing its service starting Tuesday, December 26, 2023.We really appreciate your love and support for the BTS WORLD,
and we will do our best to minimize your inconvenience until the end of the service day.Please check below for more details about the service termination schedule.
■ Service Termination Schedule
1. Service Termination date : Tuesday, December 26 2023, 11:00
2. Game download and In-App Purchase/Advertisement block date : Tuesday, September 5 2023, 11:00 KST
※ Please be aware that once the app is deleted, it cannot be re-downloaded if the download is blocked.
※ You can play your game on devices that have already installed it until the service termination date.
※ An error pop-up will occur when trying to access the Purchase/Advertisement after blocked.3. Official Forum Closing Date : Friday, March 29 2024, 11:00
※ You can’t use the official forum after shutting down.
Please make sure to personally save essential data before the closing date.■ Notice about Facebook Account Linking/Log-in issue.
– Schedule : After blocking the Game Download (After Tuesday, September 5 2023, 11:00 KST)
– Detail : Facebook account linking/log-in will be denied
– Method to resolve : If it is currently linked ‘only with Facebook’, linking it with another SNS account.
– Method to link account: In-game Option → Account → Additionally linking with Google Play / email account※ If it is difficult to access the game to receive a refund due to the effect of above issue,
please contact 1:1 customer service center for quick and accurate assistance.We greatly appreciate the support and love shown by the Managers towards our game.
We will do our best to minimize the inconvenience of Managers until the end of the service.Thank you.
— BTS World
Over a year before, BTS World released its final chapter of the game, Chapter 22, on June 2, 2022. The game had also been updated, making it easier for fans by increasing the drop rate for 5-star cards and providing more gems to players. Every card became available to purchase, with no longer just a select few.
Still, ARMYs were incredibly disappointed by the news. They hoped for an archive of some kind that allowed the game to live on, as not everyone had completed the game but wanted to watch BTS’s pre-recorded content for the story portion. Even the game’s social media channels were removed.
Does a content archive exist? It’s upsetting to think about how much will be lost—from the card photos, to the storylines most people never got to play to :/
— 🌱 ✵⁷ (@remedyinamelody) September 5, 2023
i thought even without any updates I could still open the game for a long time😭😭😭 man. do you know how many content is in this game…. I hope someone made an archive…. https://t.co/hNAOIcXqs2 pic.twitter.com/QhFiNEIPwA
— r⁷ (ia)🫶🏼 (@fated0613) September 5, 2023
Now, BTS World is returning, but not quite the way ARMYs might have hoped for.
Nearly a year after BTS World was shut down, a BTS World Season2 account appeared across social media, indicating the game’s return.
[ 🌐 ] BTS WORLD Season 2
Coming soon💜
🔗X: https://t.co/DzXP6k0TPf
🔗X(JP): https://t.co/VJtxzudflk
🔗Instagram: https://t.co/HMH6mzVv6r
🔗Youtube: https://t.co/cJ4Dumy7CE
🔗Pinterest: https://t.co/T9KQfom3lQ #BTSWORLD_Season2#BTS #방탄소년단 pic.twitter.com/1vIOI8pnyN— BTS WORLD Season 2 (@BTSWS2_official) December 1, 2024
Teasers have now been released, including a trailer showing ARMYs what they can expect from the “new” game.
[ 🎬 ] BTS WORLD Season 2 Official Trailer
Our memories continue in BTS WORLD Season 2.
Pre-registration is now live.🔗 https://t.co/xwe3rCz03t#BTSWORLD_Season2 #BTS #방탄소년단 pic.twitter.com/TLDwjxUD1z
— BTS WORLD Season 2 (@BTSWS2_official) December 2, 2024
[ 🔍 ] Go, Go! BTS WORLD Season 2 – ① Lobby & Member Room
Manager, we meet soon.
I’m looking forward to it!☑️ Pre-register now
🔗App Store: https://t.co/3u9OI5pqVc
🔗Google Play: https://t.co/QeVbPgLD5o매니저님, 우리 곧 만나요.
마중 나가서 기다릴게요 !… pic.twitter.com/AUssaCrAjh— BTS WORLD Season 2 (@BTSWS2_official) December 3, 2024
ARMYs are shocked that BTS World is returning after leaving them devastated last year.
with bts world season two coming out i’m just realizing how BUSY busy the tannies must’ve been like WHEN DID THEY EVEN DO THESE CONTENTS IN THE MIDST OF EVERYTHING THAT WAS HAPPENING BEFORE THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THEY ENLISTED
— jess⁷ misses svt (@mooniffyy) December 2, 2024
me celebrating bts world 2 knowing damn well i never even finished game one pic.twitter.com/lfsbYuODV4
— Mr Yunki is happy (@prodyngs) December 2, 2024
i literally still have the original bts world app installed omg they did this for ME pic.twitter.com/ppXZ5YLVBj
— 빅히트 인턴⁷ is meeting dnp! (@whereisjoon) December 2, 2024
Some are hoping this means that we’ll get a second soundtrack after the first was so iconic.
bts world season 2 ?!?! MANIFEST we get another soundtrack. cause heartbeat, dream glow, a brand new day, and all night ABSOLUTELY ATE 🔥pic.twitter.com/hkEBZlby0Q
— Megan G⁷ (@_derpbts_) December 2, 2024
does this mean bts world soundtrack part 2 https://t.co/gLAQvNVSRa pic.twitter.com/infce2vugN
— emily⁷ (@DlS_3ASE) December 2, 2024
in honor of BTS World Season 2 coming soon, here is THEE game OST of the year ‘Heartbeat’
THE NOSTALGIA HITTING ME AND IT HURTS LIKE HELL OMG pic.twitter.com/vsGBFqHqAZ
— 🌸 (@seokjinbit) December 2, 2024
Pre-registration is now live.