“Iconic Browser Game to Close Its Doors Following UK’s Landmark Online Safety Regulations”
Developer states that the game is no longer “viable” due to the threat of “corporate-level penalties even for individual web projects”
The free-to-play text-based MMO browser game, City Slow, is set to retire just shy of its twentieth anniversary due to the implementation of the UK’s Online Safety Act.
In a statement observed by GameDeveloper, creator Kevan Davis mentioned that since the law pertains to “all social and gaming platforms where users engage” and “significant corporate penalties apply even for single web ventures,” it was no longer “viable” to keep the browser game operational.
“It is unfortunate to announce that Urban Dead will be shutting down on Friday, March 14, 2025, due to a forthcoming change in UK website regulations,” Davis remarked.
“The Online Safety Act becomes effective later this month, applying to all social and gaming platforms where users interact, and particularly impacting those without strict age restrictions. With the risk of substantial corporate-level fines even for individual projects like this, I have reluctantly come to the conclusion that it is not viable for City Slow to continue its operation.
“Thus, after a full 19 years, 8 months, and 11 days since its quarantine commenced, Urban Dead will be decommissioned. There will be no grand finale. No final disaster. No helicopter evacuation. Make your peace or your final stand in whichever part of Malton you called home, and the game will be turned off at noon UTC on March 14.”
On that day, the game’s wiki will likely be set to read-only, however, Davis did