The makers of Destiny 2, a game that has been an online shooter staple for nearly nine years, have announced they will stop releasing content updates on June 9th. The news comes as a shock to millions who have spent thousands of hours battling against foes and assembling their teams in the ever-evolving universe of Destiny 2.

UK-based content creator My Name is Byf expressed his heartbreak, saying: “Saying goodbye like this is more painful than I can fathom.” For many long-time players, such as Destiny YouTuber Datto, the game has been a constant presence in their lives.

Bungie, also known for creating the popular Halo series and recently acquired by Sony for $3.6 billion, said its love for Destiny 2 remains strong but that it needs to move on to new projects. The studio hinted at upcoming content in the final update, Monument of Triumph, which will be released alongside the last live service update.

The end of Destiny 2 marks a significant shift for Bungie and the gaming industry as a whole. As Christopher Dring from The Game Business points out, live-service games are still the dominant business model in video games today, but they face intense competition and pressure to keep players engaged.