Silent North is being pulled from stores, but its VR servers will stay online for now
Combat Waffle Studios is retiring Silent North, its online VR survival game set in the Swiss Alps. The studio says the game is being withdrawn from stores, while its servers will remain online for now before an eventual shutdown.
The announcement gives existing players time to return to the game, but no final date to put on a calendar. It also creates a distinction for anyone considering a purchase: removing a game from sale and switching off its online servers are separate steps.
In its announcement on Steam, Combat Waffle said it intends to retire Silent North across all platforms. The statement does not specify when the servers will go offline or announce an offline replacement.
Image: Combat Waffle Studios
The store page and the servers are different questions
The Steam listing may not change at the same moment as the studio's announcement. Anyone considering a purchase should check the current store page and the developer's plans for the online service first.
Image: Combat Waffle Studios
The studio's announcement says the game will no longer be available for purchase on any storefront. It does not say the servers have already shut down. Players who own it should watch the developer's announcements for a final date rather than assume the current access will continue indefinitely.
Silent North entered Steam Early Access on April 8, 2025. The PC listing identifies it as a VR-only game with online PvP and cross-platform multiplayer. Its store description places players in a snowy survival world where they gather equipment, build shelter and contend with infected enemies as well as other players.
Image: Combat Waffle Studios
The studio says the early launch hurt its momentum
Combat Waffle says it was pushed to release earlier than it wanted and links the launch to a high early refund rate and poor reputation. That is the studio's explanation; its statement does not name who pushed for the release or give a number for the refunds.
The developer says it was unable to rebuild momentum after that initial setback. Its announcement thanks players for supporting the project and describes leaving it behind as a difficult decision.
The old Early Access description on Steam included possible future features such as player-hosted custom servers. Steam now warns that the developer's Early Access information may be out of date. A feature described there as a future plan is not confirmation that an alternative server option exists today.
For current owners, the practical point is that the studio has not published a sunset date in its announcement. For prospective buyers, a visible store button should not be mistaken for a promise about how long a game that relies on online services will remain playable.
