Has Kim Kardashian's mobile app finally shut down? Reality star expresses gratitude to fans and Glu team
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Kim Kardashian's mobile game 'Kim Kardashian: Hollywood' is shutting down after nearly ten years since its release. The game was launched in June 2014 and was available on iOS and Android for $1.99, players could create their celebrity look and profile.
The game has been taken down from the Apple and Android app stores and to those who have already downloaded it, it will show that "no longer offers in-app purchase" has been removed from app stores.
Players who downloaded it can play until it shuts down on April 8. This game took players on a journey to achieve stardom by gaining fans through acting, modeling, club appearances, award shows, and even relationships. In the very first five days, it earned, $1.6 million.
Kim Kardashian, the SKIMs owner told TMZ, "I'm so grateful from the bottom of my heart to everyone who has loved and played Kim Kardashian: Hollywood in the past 10 years. This journey has meant so much to me but I’ve realized that it’s time to focus that energy into other passions."
'The Kardashians' star added, "I want to thank the Glu team and the many people behind the scenes who have worked diligently to make it a success. I will be forever inspired by this community that we built together."
The internet found it quite remarkable that the game is finally closing its doors after a decade. Users took to various online platforms to share their joy, with a Reddit post becoming a space for expressing their opinions.
One of them wrote, "Didn’t even remember this was a thing."
Another wrote, "I guess it cost more money to keep the app running than what is profiting..." guessing that Kim might be recurring losses.
Numerous users also commented that the game didn't meet expectations, stating, "The game wasn't that good anyways," and expressing sentiments like "It's better to close it."
Many even mocked Kim as one of them said, "Not enough budget to keep up with the face changes. I get it."
A user even blamed Kim for stealing other game developers' ideas and wrote "Remember when Kim and PMK stole the ideas and concepts from the original game developer, then released the game with another developer. Snakey bitches"
Who was the mastermind behind Kim Kardashian's gaming app?
The mastermind behind Kim Kardashian's gaming app was the CEO of Glu Mobile, Niccolo De Masi.
The Glu company wanted to make a casual roleplaying game in early 2013 and tried negotiating multiple unrelated deals. They thought who better than "Kardashian" would be fit for the role.
The game took around 18 months to develop and even Kim was invested in the making of the app.
They discussed all the requirements of the game as to what event should be included, what new features can be added and many more.
Kim Kardashian as 'Mobile Mogul' earned $160million
The reality TV star landed on the cover of Forbes magazine's July 26 issue after her game 'Kim Kardashian: Hollywood' app earned a whopping $160 million.
In 2016, the app was already downloaded more than 45 million times and had generated $160 million in total revenue, although Forbes stated the star had accumulated $45 million.
She also landed on the No. 42 spot on 'Forbes' Celebrity 100' list after she earned $51 million this year, and reportedly 40 percent of her revenue came from the app itself.
When did Kendall Jenner and Kylie Jenner launch their gaming app?
The Kardashian sisters 'Kendall and Kylie, followed in the footsteps of Kim and finally launched their gaming app. 'Kendall&Kylie was released on iOS and Android on February 17, 2016.
In just the first five days of its release, the game made it to the number 1 spot on the iOS app store and number 35 on the Google Play store.
The game was officially shut down on September 12, 2022.