By Sagar V. Mankar 
On December 31, Gun Interactive officially shut down the servers of Friday the 13th: The Game.
Launched in 2017, the game became a beloved title in the asymmetrical multiplayer horror genre. Unfortunately, due to the expiration of Gun Interactive’s licensing agreement, the servers will go offline, and players must bid farewell to this iconic experience.
The game’s journey has been filled with highs and lows. A significant legal dispute between Sean Cunningham, the director of the original Friday the 13th film, and Victor Miller, its writer, prevented the addition of new content. This legal battle notably halted the introduction of Uber Jason from Jason X. Fans tried to keep the game alive with unofficial mods, but these efforts were quickly shut down by Horror Inc. with cease-and-desist orders.
Despite these challenges, Friday the 13th: The Game has left an indelible mark on the gaming world. It played a crucial role in shaping the asymmetrical multiplayer horror genre, a legacy now carried forward by games like Dead by Daylight.
The success of Friday the 13th: The Game also opened doors for Gun Interactive’s The Texas Chain Saw Massacre: The Game and IllFonic’s titles such as Predator: Hunting Grounds, Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed, and Killer Klowns From Outer Space: The Game.
On review platforms, the game achieved modest scores. It holds a Metascore of 61 on Metacritic, with a user rating of 6.3. OpenCritic reflects a similar score of 61, with 19% of critics recommending it. On Steam, it maintains a ‘Mostly Positive‘ rating based on over 76,000 reviews.
Looking ahead, the Friday the 13th franchise is far from over in the gaming world. Fans can still find Jason in WB Games‘ MultiVersus. Additionally, the recently launched Jason Universe promises to expand the franchise across multiple mediums, including new video games. Rumors also persist about an upcoming Friday the 13th game involving the franchise’s longtime composer, Harry Manfredini.
Sources: Official Gun Interactive Announcements, Metacritic, OpenCritic, Steam Reviews.