Ratchet & Clank dev closing free-to-play Facebook game Outernauts

Outernauts' days are numbered. Insomniac Games has announced that it will remove the Electronic Arts-published strategy game from Facebook and Kongregate on January 31, just 18 months after it was originally released.

"Being our first browser and free-to-play title, Outernauts experienced some growing pains (remember when we used to have Energy?), but we are truly proud of it and the evolution it has gone through," Insomniac said. "Part of that evolution came from suggestions from our fans and their constant passion. We are forever thankful."

The free-to-play browser-based game may be on the way out, but an iOS version (and eventually Android) is currently in development, Insomniac said.

"While we'd love to be able to keep running Outernauts on Facebook, Kongregate, AND iOS, we simply don't have the resources to do so at our high standards," Insomniac said.

In-game purchases for Outernauts are currently turned off, and the studio will offer triple the purchase star gems to those who bought them within the past 24 to 48 hours.

According to Insomniac, the iOS version of Outernauts is "overhauled," but retains the "core charm" and features of the original game. "This ain't no simple port. We're very excited about it here," the developer said.

In addition to Outernauts for iOS and Android, Insomniac--which has studios in North Carolina and California--is working on the Xbox One-exclusive Sunset Overdrive for a 2014 release.