---
title: "Shadowverse CCG: End-of-Service Guide and Moving to Worlds Beyond"
game: "Shadowverse CCG"
game_url: "https://qna.gg/games/shadowverse-ccg"
author: "Qloud"
author_url: "https://qna.gg/players/Qloud"
topics: ["Classes"]
summary: "Shadowverse has shut down. Cygames ended service for the original Shadowverse at 7:00 p.m. PT on June 30, 2026, after a ten-year run. Crystal purchases stopped after the March 24, 2026 maintenance. The game can no…"
url: "https://qna.gg/g/shadowverse-ccg-end-of-service-guide-and-moving-to-worlds-be-a4335496"
published: "2026-09-27T17:16:55.706Z"
updated: "2026-09-27T17:16:55.706Z"
source: "QnA.GG"
---

# Shadowverse CCG: End-of-Service Guide and Moving to Worlds Beyond

> **Shadowverse has shut down.** Cygames ended service for the original Shadowverse at **7:00 p.m. PT on June 30, 2026**, after a ten-year run. Crystal purchases stopped after the March 24, 2026 maintenance. The game can no longer be played online. Its successor, **Shadowverse: Worlds Beyond**, launched June 17, 2025 as a free-to-play game on iOS, Android and PC (Windows/macOS, including Steam).
>
> **Urgent (as of September 28, 2026):** the window to request a transfer of unused crystals to Worlds Beyond closes at **7:00 p.m. PT on September 30, 2026**. You can only apply if you linked your accounts before shutdown. Details below.

This guide covers what happened, how to rescue what you can from your old account, how the original game worked (for anyone revisiting its story or memories), and how to carry your Shadowverse skills into Worlds Beyond.

*Researched September 2026 — current as of the official end-of-service notices (announced late March 2026; service ended June 30, 2026; crystal transfer applications open June 30 to September 30, 2026). Live games change; check the linked sources if something differs.*

## Quick Start (what to do right now)

1. **Did you link your account to Worlds Beyond before June 30, 2026?** If yes, you can still apply for a crystal transfer until **September 30, 2026, 7:00 p.m. PT**.
2. **Apply from inside the Shadowverse app.** Don't uninstall it until your crystals have actually been transferred (Cygames' own warning). Open the app, press the crystal transfer button, check that your user ID and crystal balance are correct in the browser form, enter a contact email, and submit.
3. **Transferred crystals arrive as unpaid crystals** in Worlds Beyond. Processing starts October 1, 2026, in the order applications were received.
4. **Region exclusion:** the transfer applies only to players outside Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.
5. **Didn't link in time?** Account linking stopped at end of service, so neither link rewards nor transfers are available. You can still start fresh in Worlds Beyond, which is free-to-play.
6. **Install Worlds Beyond** on Steam (or mobile) and pick your class. Your old card knowledge transfers well.

## Timeline

| Date (PT) | Event |
|---|---|
| June 17, 2016 | Shadowverse launches on mobile |
| October 2016 | PC/Steam release |
| December 2017 | Portalcraft and the Rotation format added (Chronogenesis) |
| June 17, 2025 | Shadowverse: Worlds Beyond launches; account linking opens |
| March 24, 2026 | Crystal sales end after maintenance |
| Late March 2026 | End of service officially announced (Steam post dated March 30) |
| March 31, 2026, 7:00 p.m. | Battle Pass Season 23 begins; Premium Pass given to all players; Throwback Rotation card pool resets |
| April 30 and May 31, 2026, 7:00 p.m. | Further Throwback Rotation resets |
| June 30, 2026, 7:00 p.m. | Service ends; account linking ends; crystal transfer applications open |
| September 30, 2026, 7:00 p.m. | Crystal transfer application deadline |
| From October 1, 2026 | Transfers processed |

Over its lifetime Shadowverse released more than 5,000 cards across 32 card sets, 20 main story chapters, and ran the World Grand Prix esports series. Its legacy continues in Shadowverse: Evolve (the physical card game) and Worlds Beyond.

## What the Account Link Gave You

If you linked before shutdown (the link was one-way and permanent: one original account to one Worlds Beyond account):

- **Everyone:** 2 Legends Rise card pack tickets and default sleeves.
- **Rank B or higher:** 2–3 more Legends Rise tickets depending on tier.
- **Master and above:** Shadowverse Rex flair (Master), seasonal sleeves (Grand Master), seasonal flairs (Challenge Master), and special flairs for top-3 Master Score finishes and top tournament placings.
- **Level 100 classes:** card style cosmetics.
- **Collection-based rewards:** backgrounds for your existing collection, plus emblems and posters for each non-tie-in leader.
- **Battle records:** your original Shadowverse stats (wins, ranks, class data) show on your Worlds Beyond profile, which you can hide in profile settings.

## How Original Shadowverse Worked (reference)

Useful if you're moving to Worlds Beyond, because most fundamentals carry over.

### Core rules

- Each **Leader has 20 defense**. Reduce your opponent's to zero, or win through an alternate win-condition card (e.g. Havencraft's Enstatued Seraph).
- **Play Points (PP)** grow by one each turn to a maximum of 10 and pay for cards.
- **Decks** are 40 cards, with up to three copies of a card.
- **Followers, spells and amulets** are the three card types.
- **Evolution:** players gain Evolution Points to evolve followers, giving bonus stats and effects. The **first player gets two** points, while the **second player gets three** and can evolve a turn earlier, which balances going first.
- **Formats:** Rotation (recent sets plus basics) and Unlimited (all cards), plus the draft-style **Take Two** mode and the **Cross Craft** mode.
- **Crafting:** cards were liquefied into vials, which were used to create other cards.

### The eight classes

| Class | Leader | Identity |
|---|---|---|
| Forestcraft | Arisa | Fairies, card-play-count combos |
| Swordcraft | Erika | Officers, commanders, wide boards |
| Runecraft | Isabelle | Spellboost and spell-driven power |
| Dragoncraft | Rowen | Overflow (ramp to 7 PP) and big threats |
| Shadowcraft | Luna | Shadows (graveyard) and Necromancy |
| Bloodcraft | Urias | Vengeance at low defense, self-damage |
| Havencraft | Eris | Amulets, countdowns, healing |
| Portalcraft | Yuwan | Artifacts and resonance |

## Moving to Shadowverse: Worlds Beyond

### What's the same

- 1-on-1 competitive online card battles with followers, spells and amulets, PP and evolution.
- Class identities you know: **Forestcraft, Swordcraft, Runecraft, Dragoncraft, Havencraft, Portalcraft**.
- A draft-style **Take Two** mode (added August 4, 2025): pick one of two card pairs fourteen times to build a 30-card deck.

### What's new

| Change | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| **Seven classes** | Shadowcraft and Bloodcraft are merged into a new class, **Abysscraft** |
| **Super Evolution** | A stronger evolution on top of the normal one: bigger stat boost plus Rush, the follower can't be destroyed during your turn, and it deals 1 damage to the enemy leader when its attack destroys a follower (per Wikipedia; read the in-game keyword text for exact numbers) |
| **Shadowverse Park** | A social hub where you walk around and meet players from around the world; your old battle records can be shown or hidden here |
| **New cast** | New leader characters and a new story; check the in-game class pages rather than assuming your old leaders carry over |

### Carry-over tips for veterans

- **Evolve timing still decides games.** With Super Evolution added, plan which turn you'll spend each point and which follower gets it.
- **Abysscraft** will feel familiar if you played Shadowcraft or Bloodcraft. Expect graveyard and self-damage themes to blend.
- **Rotation mindset:** keep an eye on which sets are current, as in the old game's Rotation format.
- **Spend pack tickets deliberately.** Link rewards and transferred unpaid crystals are finite, so read the current banners before pulling.
- **Monetization:** Worlds Beyond has faced player criticism over microtransactions, so set a budget if you spend.

## Other Ways to Keep Playing Shadowverse

With the original app offline, these are the official options Cygames' farewell post names:

| Option | What it is | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Shadowverse: Worlds Beyond | The direct digital successor (free-to-play) | Online ranked and casual play, the closest experience |
| Shadowverse: Evolve | The physical trading card game | Local play-group and tournament players |
| Shadowverse: Champion's Battle | A Nintendo Switch game with a single-player story campaign | Offline play and the anime-era story |
| Shadowverse / Shadowverse Flame anime | Animated series | Revisiting characters and story |

## Common Mistakes to Avoid

- **Uninstalling the original app before transferring crystals.** Transfer applications can only be made from inside the Shadowverse app.
- **Missing the September 30, 2026 deadline.** After that, unused crystals can't be transferred.
- **Assuming you can still link accounts.** Linking closed with the end of service on June 30, 2026.
- **Expecting your card collection to transfer.** Link rewards were tickets, cosmetics and records, not your card collection.
- **Playing Worlds Beyond exactly like the original.** Super Evolution and Abysscraft change tempo and matchups.

## Advanced Tips for Worlds Beyond (from Shadowverse fundamentals)

- **Curve out.** Using all your PP every turn is still the strongest habit in Shadowverse-style games.
- **Board control before face damage** in most matchups, unless you're an aggro deck with lethal in sight.
- **Count evolutions.** Know how many evolution and Super Evolution points each player has left before committing a big follower.
- **Track your opponent's class tools.** Every class has a signature comeback or removal pattern. Play around the ones you remember.
- **Take Two** rewards evaluating individual card power and curve. It's a great way to learn new sets cheaply.

## FAQ

**Can I still play the original Shadowverse?**
No. Service ended at 7:00 p.m. PT on June 30, 2026. The app remains useful only for submitting the crystal transfer application until September 30, 2026.

**What happens to my unused crystals?**
If your account was linked to Worlds Beyond before shutdown and you're outside Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, apply in the app by September 30, 2026, 7:00 p.m. PT. They become unpaid crystals in Worlds Beyond, with processing from October 1, 2026.

**I didn't link my accounts. Can I still get anything?**
No. Linking ended with the service, and transfers require a link.

**Is Shadowverse: Worlds Beyond free?**
Yes. It's free-to-play with optional purchases, on PC (Steam) and iOS/Android. Its first week grossed about $21.7 million in player spending, but player reviews were largely negative over monetization, so budget carefully.

**Does Worlds Beyond have Shadowcraft and Bloodcraft?**
Not as separate classes. They were merged into Abysscraft.

**What's Super Evolution?**
A stronger evolve introduced in Worlds Beyond: a bigger stat boost plus Rush, immunity to destruction during your turn, and 1 damage to the enemy leader whenever its attack destroys a follower. Check the in-game keyword text for exact values.

## Sources

- [Shadowverse official news — End of Service announcements](https://shadowverse.com/news/)
- [Schedule for the End of Service for Shadowverse](https://shadowverse.com/news/?announce_id=3338)
- [Procedures for Transferring Unused Crystals](https://shadowverse.com/news/?announce_id=3354)
- [Linking with Shadowverse: Worlds Beyond](https://shadowverse.com/news/?announce_id=3284)
- [Shadowverse: Worlds Beyond official site](https://shadowverse-wb.com/en/)
- [Shadowverse — Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadowverse)
- [Shadowverse: Worlds Beyond — Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadowverse:_Worlds_Beyond)
- [Shadowverse on Steam (end-of-service announcement, March 2026)](https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/453480)