Raucous action game Let It Die is shutting down, but you can pay to keep playing offline

Let It Die will be shut down later this year, but developer Grasshopper Manufacture promises that you'll be able to keep playing by buying a new, offline version of the tower-climbing action game. After racking up more than nine million downloads and spawning sequel Let It Die: Inferno, the original's time as a free-to-play online game is coming to an end. The transition will take place at the end of August, just shy of Let It Die's tenth anniversary, with its live-service hooks either stripped out or replaced with offline equivalents.

I respect Let It Die for its heartfelt authenticity, even though I never truly fell in love with it the way I hoped. Spurred on by the skeletal Uncle Death, you're tasked with climbing the Tower of Barbs, battling through an ever-escalating series of floors in pursuit of stronger weapons and gear. Opting for the weighty intentionality of Dark Souls-esque combat, Let It Die blends roguelike runs with a long-term grind - however, it hovered a little too close to the brink of pushing you towards paying for convenience for my liking.

With the proposed shutdown, that will change. "Once the offline version is released, you can enjoy the Tower of Barbs to your heart's content without any restrictions," Grasshopper writes. "With a one-time purchase, you will get full access to Let It Die forever without any additional money transactions, in-game or otherwise." Real-money sales of the Express Pass and premium currency Death Metal have already been discontinued, but you can use your existing stocks until Thursday July 30.

Items that could previously be purchased with Death Metal, such as the continue system, storage expansion, and base renovations, will now be available with the Kill Coins that you earn through regular play. The Express Pass will also be offered via Kill Coins, but other features such as the ability to shorten R&D time or use the 'Hernia' vending machine are being discontinued.

Grasshopper adds that the Tokyo Death Metro (TDM), where you could engage in asynchronous PvP to raid other players' bases, fighting their AI-controlled troops and defenses, will be kept around as an option, but your targets will all be computer-run Waiting Rooms. The seasonal TDM Battle Rush will be discontinued.

The move to offline also presumably means an end to the 'Hater' system, where the builds of other fallen players at the point they died could appear as dangerous, computer-controlled foes in your world, or that there will simply be a number of preset loadouts that can appear in their place. Grasshopper has yet to confirm exactly what the future for Haters will be, however.

Whether you're already a Let It Die player or not, you'll have the ability to buy the offline version through Steam once it releases, although Grasshopper has not yet made clear what date this edition will launch or how much it will cost. It also notes that you will have the option to purchase the original game's premium version, the 'Let It Die Uncle Prime Edition,' for use in the offline era if you wish.

"It has been a hell of a ride these past nine years, and we would not have been able to make it this far without the undying support of our Senpais," Grasshopper concludes. "We are working hard to pour our love into developing the offline version for you all. The online service may be coming to an end, but Let It Die will continue to evolve. We hope you enjoy these last few months of Let It Die's online service, and we are looking forward to seeing you in Let It Die offline, Senpai."

The existing, free-to-play Let It Die app will be discontinued on Sunday August 30 at 7pm PT / 10pm ET (Monday August 31 at 3am BST / 4am CEST). The Let It Die online servers will be shut down on Monday August 31 at 7pm PT / 10pm ET (Tuesday September 1 at 3am BST / 4am CEST). Grasshopper Manufacture has yet to announce the release date and price for the Let It Die offline version.