Changes are afoot in the Club Penguin world.
In a Monday blog post, the Club Penguin team announced that the game will be discontinued on desktop and mobile devices March 29. But here's the good news: the game will be replaced by a new one, called Club Penguin Island. Keep reading for everything you need to know about the transition.
The new Club Penguin Island is slated to launch on iOS and Android mobile devices in March. Players in select areas can pre-register for the game now through Feb. 16 and "receive exclusive in-game rewards" when they log in for the first time.
"There's still lots to do before we release worldwide and we'll do our best to keep everyone updated as we get closer to the release," the Club Penguin team wrote on YouTube. Check out the game's trailer below.
Meanwhile, the original Club Penguin game is no longer accepting new signups, but current paid members can log on and continue to play as much as they like until either their original membership end date or March 29, whichever comes first. As of today, paid members will no longer be charged a recurring payment for the app and desktop game. If you currently subscribe to the game, you should be getting an email with more information about the shutdown, including refund details.
Those without a membership can continue to log in and play as they always have until the shutdown.
"We are deeply grateful for your time and enthusiasm since the beginning, and we'd like to thank each and every one of you in the Club Penguin community – we can't wait for you to see what's coming next," the Club Penguin team wrote.
For the uninitiated, Club Penguin is a virtual world where kids play as penguin characters. Kids can chat with friends and search for special items as they explore the wintery world. Originally released in 2005, the game was developed by New Horizon Interactive and published by Disney Interactive.
The Club Penguin team is planning a "huge party" starting Wednesday, Feb. 1, to celebrate the game, so members will want to check that out. For more information about the shutdown, head over to this FAQ page.