Captain Tsubasa Rivals Ends Service but Mini App Lives On

The blockchain gaming community has been hit with another major closure. Captain Tsubasa Rivals, the Web3 card battle game based on the legendary football manga, will be shutting down its Polygon and Oasys versions on November 28, 2025, at 06:00 UTC. While this is disappointing news for long-time players, the IP isn’t disappearing completely—its Mini App on Telegram and LINE remains live, with Season 3 already in the works.

Let’s break down what this means for fans, why the game is closing, and what’s next for the franchise.

Why Is Captain Tsubasa Rivals Shutting Down?

After about three years of operation, the team behind Captain Tsubasa Rivals has made the difficult decision to close its Polygon and Oasys services. In their official announcement, the developers cited the challenges of sustaining the game’s ecosystem as the main reason for the shutdown.

They expressed deep gratitude to the community, saying:

“Taking on the challenge of combining the historic IP ‘Captain Tsubasa’ with the new frontier of blockchain games was by no means an easy path, but thanks to our users, we were able to gain a wealth of experiences together. Although we had aimed for long-term game operation, it has become difficult to continue the game ecosystem.”

This closure reflects the broader reality of the blockchain gaming industry, where many projects have struggled to maintain long-term sustainability.

Shutdown Timeline and Key Dates

If you’re still playing Captain Tsubasa Rivals on Polygon or Oasys, here are the important dates to keep in mind:

• October 26, 23:59 UTC

  • Deposits and GEM purchases disabled

  • Rivals Mode / PvP Mode terminated

  • Arena PvP Mode and Marketplace shut down

• November 7, 06:00 UTC

  • End of Arena (Special Match)

• November 28, 06:00 UTC

  • Full shutdown of the app and website

Once these services are closed, players will lose access to their NFTs and certain in-game tokens.

What Happens to Your Tokens and NFTs?

If you’ve been playing, make sure to withdraw your assets before the shutdown. The team has confirmed the following details:

• Tokens available for withdrawal: $TSUGT, $TSUBASAUT, $POL, $OAS

• Withdraw before November 28 or risk losing access

• $TSUBASAUT withdrawals are limited to the “available withdrawal amount”

• NFTs will no longer be viewable once service is terminated

If you have assets in-game, now is the time to act before it’s too late.

What Was Captain Tsubasa Rivals?

For those unfamiliar, Captain Tsubasa Rivals was a turn-based deckbuilding game that let players collect and train football cards based on the iconic manga series. Gameplay combined PvE story battles with PvP card duels, where players could unleash special moves from the anime to earn the in-game utility token $TSUBASAUT.

Key milestones of the game included:

• October 2022 – Game announced after Captain Tsubasa partnered with The Sandbox

• January 2023 – Launch on Polygon as a play-and-earn title

• January 2024 – Mobile release on Android and iOS

• May 2024 – Expansion to Oasys as part of a multi-chain strategy

Despite strong branding and an engaged community, the game struggled to maintain sustainable growth—a common challenge faced by many blockchain games.

The Mini App Lives On with Season 3 Coming

The shutdown only affects the Polygon and Oasys versions. The Mini App edition of Captain Tsubasa Rivals remains fully operational on Telegram and LINE.

Here’s how the Mini App works today:

• Train 44 player cards to boost team power

• Earn $xJOHN, which determines airdrop allocation of the $JOHN token

• Stake $JOHN to earn $sJOHN for bigger prize pool shares

• Increase your Team Power to maximize seasonal rewards

Currently, the Mini App is in Season 2, but the team has already teased Season 3 preparations, suggesting continued development and rewards for players.

If you still want to experience the football-themed play-to-earn action, the Mini App is your best option moving forward.

The Bigger Picture for Blockchain Gaming

The closure of Captain Tsubasa Rivals on Polygon and Oasys comes right after the pause in development for another Web3 title, Eternal League. These back-to-back announcements highlight how fragile the Web3 gaming ecosystem still is.

Even licensed IPs like Captain Tsubasa can’t guarantee long-term success if the player base and revenue streams aren’t sustainable. This has been a recurring theme across both traditional and blockchain games, where many projects end up shutting down despite passionate communities.

Still, the continuation of the Mini App shows that developers are looking for more lightweight and accessible formats that might work better within the Web3 gaming economy.

Final Thoughts

The end of Captain Tsubasa Rivals on Polygon and Oasys is a loss for fans who enjoyed the card battle format, but it isn’t the end of the IP in Web3. The Mini App is still thriving, with Season 3 on the horizon, offering new opportunities for players to earn and compete.

If you’ve been a supporter of the project, now’s the time to withdraw your tokens and NFTs before the shutdown deadlines. And if you’re looking to stay connected to the Captain Tsubasa universe, the Telegram and LINE Mini Apps are the way to go.

In the broader context of blockchain games, this is another reminder that sustainability remains the toughest challenge. For developers and players alike, the future lies in finding models that balance fun, accessibility, and long-term ecosystem health.