Is Vainglory Still Playable? Status and Shutdown Timeline
Vainglory is a mobile MOBA (multiplayer online battle arena) developed by Super Evil Megacorp (SEMC). Apple used it on stage to show off the iPhone 6’s graphics in 2014, and it became known as one of the first phone games to offer PC-style team battles.
Short answer: Vainglory is still playable on iPhone and iPad through the App Store, where it runs as the unmanaged “Community Edition.” It is no longer listed on Google Play, and the PC version on Steam has been discontinued.
This article explains why a game that “shut down” in 2020 can still be played today, with a timeline of everything that happened.
- Is Vainglory Still Playable? Availability by Platform
- What Happened When Vainglory Shut Down?
- What Can You Still Do in Vainglory Community Edition?
- Vainglory Timeline: From 2014 to 2023
- Why Is Vainglory Considered a Pioneer of Mobile MOBAs?
- What Mobile MOBAs Can You Play Instead of Vainglory?
- Vainglory FAQ
Is Vainglory Still Playable? Availability by Platform
The Apple App Store for iPhone and iPad is the only official store where you can still download Vainglory. There is no longer an official way to get the game on Android or PC.
| Platform | Store | Current status |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone and iPad | App Store | Available (latest version 4.13.4) |
| Android | Google Play | No working store page |
| PC (Windows and Mac) | Steam | Discontinued |
| Android (Samsung and Amazon) | Galaxy Store and Amazon Appstore | Discontinued |
Can You Still Download Vainglory on iPhone and iPad?
Yes. Vainglory is still listed on the Apple App Store under Super Evil Megacorp, and the latest version is 4.13.4, released in September 2022. The iOS app has not been updated since then, so no new heroes or balance changes will arrive.
Because the iOS version is frozen at version 4.13.4, you play the game exactly as it was in September 2022.
Why Can’t You Find Vainglory on Google Play?
Vainglory no longer has a working store page on Google Play, so Android players cannot download it from the official store. In October 2023, the fan community Bubbleland shared a response from an SEMC developer about the game not being listed.
APK files for Vainglory offered on third-party websites are not official releases. They may be tampered with, so this article does not recommend installing them.
Is the Steam Version of Vainglory Still Available?
No. The Steam store page says Vainglory is no longer available. The PC version fully launched on Steam on February 13, 2019, and an announcement in June 2022 ended new downloads on Steam, Samsung, and Amazon.
What Happened When Vainglory Shut Down?
Vainglory’s servers went dark in March 2020, and developer SEMC then brought the game back as Vainglory: Community Edition. The game did not disappear; it kept running without an official live-service team.
Rogue Games Shut Down the Servers in March 2020
Rogue Games, the company operating Vainglory, shut down the game’s servers on March 27, 2020. For players, the service ended suddenly and with almost no warning.
SEMC Relaunched the Game as Vainglory: Community Edition
On April 1, 2020, SEMC announced that it would hand Vainglory over to its player community as Vainglory: Community Edition. The plan removed costly servers and player data systems, with the long-term goal of letting the community host its own servers.
With the move to Community Edition, every hero in Vainglory became free to use.
Community Edition Development Was Paused Indefinitely in June 2022
In June 2022, SEMC announced that feature development and bug fixes for Community Edition were postponed indefinitely. The studio said it wanted to protect the team’s health and focus on Catalyst Black, its new game released worldwide on May 25, 2022.
The same announcement said Vainglory’s servers would stay online and the game would remain playable in its current state.
What Can You Still Do in Vainglory Community Edition?
You can still play matches in Vainglory Community Edition, but surrounding features such as accounts, chat, guilds, and ranked play were removed. Most of these features were cut to keep operating costs low.
| Feature | Status in Community Edition |
|---|---|
| Matches | Playable |
| Heroes | All heroes are free |
| Playing with friends | Join each other by sharing a party code |
| Friend list and chat | Removed |
| Guilds | Removed |
| Ranked play | Removed |
| Accounts | Removed |
Vainglory Timeline: From 2014 to 2023
Vainglory’s official live service ran for a little over five years, from the iOS launch in November 2014 to the server shutdown in March 2020. Since then, the game has continued as Community Edition without updates.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| September 2014 | Shown at Apple’s iPhone 6 event as a demo of the Metal graphics API |
| November 16, 2014 | iOS version released |
| 2015 | Won an Apple Design Award |
| July 2, 2015 | Android version released |
| February 13, 2018 | 5v5 mode added |
| July 2018 | Alpha of the PC version (Windows and Mac) released |
| February 13, 2019 | Full launch on Steam |
| March 27, 2020 | Rogue Games shut down the servers |
| April 1, 2020 | SEMC announced Vainglory: Community Edition |
| June 2022 | Community Edition development paused indefinitely; Steam, Samsung, and Amazon downloads ended |
| September 2022 | Final iOS version, 4.13.4, released |
| October 2023 | An SEMC developer’s response about the missing Google Play listing was shared |
Why Is Vainglory Considered a Pioneer of Mobile MOBAs?
Vainglory showed in 2014 that a phone could run a MOBA with PC-level depth. Its role at an Apple product launch and its Apple Design Award both back up that reputation.
Apple Chose Vainglory to Demo the iPhone 6’s Graphics
At Apple’s event in September 2014, Vainglory was presented as a demo of the iPhone 6 and Apple’s new Metal graphics API. The game had not even been released yet when it appeared on stage at an iPhone launch.
Vainglory Won an Apple Design Award in 2015
Vainglory received an Apple Design Award in 2015. Apple gives this award to apps that stand out for their design and technical achievement.
How Vainglory Grew from 3v3 to 5v5 and PC Cross-Play
Vainglory launched as a 3v3 MOBA, and a 5v5 mode arrived on February 13, 2018. The Steam version fully launched on February 13, 2019, so phones, tablets, and PCs could play in the same matches.
Vainglory had 56 heroes as of Update 4.11. The final hero added to the game was Amael, who arrived in Update 4.13 in March 2020.
What Mobile MOBAs Can You Play Instead of Vainglory?
If you want a mobile MOBA that is still officially supported, the main options are Pokémon UNITE, League of Legends: Wild Rift, Honor of Kings, and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. All four center on 5v5 matches, unlike Vainglory, which started as a 3v3 game.
| Game | Launch | What it is like |
|---|---|---|
| Pokémon UNITE | Nintendo Switch: July 21, 2021 Mobile: September 22, 2021 |
A MOBA played with Pokémon; Switch and mobile players can play together |
| League of Legends: Wild Rift | Open beta from October 2020 in select regions | Riot Games’ mobile rebuild of the PC game League of Legends |
| Honor of Kings | Global launch: June 20, 2024 | The international version of the hugely popular Chinese MOBA Wangzhe Rongyao, published by Level Infinite |
| Mobile Legends: Bang Bang | Available on the App Store and Google Play | Developed by Moonton and especially popular in Southeast Asia |
Vainglory FAQ
Can You Recover an Old Vainglory Account or Rank?
No. Vainglory Community Edition removed accounts, ranked play, and friend lists entirely, so old accounts and ranks cannot be carried over.
Will Vainglory Come Back or Get New Updates?
SEMC has not announced any plans to resume development of Vainglory. Community Edition has been on indefinite hold since June 2022, and the iOS app is still on version 4.13.4 from September 2022.
What Is Super Evil Megacorp Doing Now?
Super Evil Megacorp (SEMC), the studio behind Vainglory, has continued to release new games. It launched Catalyst Black worldwide on May 25, 2022, and released Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate in 2023.
