Skip to main content

Zynga cutting Mafia Wars, other titles from MySpace

myspace-zynga titlesAs MySpace’s imminent sale or spinoff continues, things are bound to get worse before they get better. According to TechCrunch, Zynga has trimmed a number of games formerly offered on the site, most notably the extremely addictive Mafia Wars. Users are now being greeted by this memo:

“Thank you for playing Mafia Wars on MySpace! Zynga is discontinuing Mafia Wars on MySpace beginning April 18, 2011, however we encourage you to continue playing Mafia Wars at MafiaWars.com, which includes: New destinations to conquer like Brazil, Italy, and Vegas; Improved and additional properties to build; More ways to fight rivals, including robbing properties.”

Recommended Videos

At least Zynga didn’t redirect users with something “Thanks for playing Mafia Wars on MySpace! Now get yourself over to Facebook like a normal person and keep up with your social gaming addictions!” The increasingly influential developer has also pulled Fashion Wars and YoVille, both of which are still listed on its site under MySpace games, but curiously link to Mob Wars. MySpace still includes Zynga titles Pirates, Special Forces, Vampire Wars, and Zynga Poker.

It’s a little sad, but completely unsurprising. MySpace’s demise is no secret, and with plummeting numbers of users and ever-rising expenses – oh, and its continuing sale process – the site isn’t a terrible popular platform for app developers.

But just to throw a twist in the whole thing is former MySpace CEO Chris DeWolfe’s latest series of acquisitions; the co-founder of MySpace, who is said to be mulling a bid on his brainchild, bought online game developer MindJolt last month. The New York Times reports that MindJolt itself has picked up two new game companies in the last week: Social Gaming Network and Hallpass Media. These acquisitions will add millions of users to MindJolt’s consumer base, users which could possibly transfer to a new, game-centric MySpace headed by its former CEO? Time will tell. Of course, even if DeWolfe manages to scoop of the remnants of MySpace and outfit it with MindJolt gaming apps, competing with the likes of Zynga’s and EA’s user base could prove impossible.

Molly McHugh
Former Social Media/Web Editor
Before coming to Digital Trends, Molly worked as a freelance writer, occasional photographer, and general technical lackey…
PS6: everything we know about the PlayStation 6 so far
A PS5 DualSense controller.

*Updated 6/13/2025 to include new hardware details, release date rumors, and handheld details from the latest Sony Game & Network Services Segment Fireside Chat

It sounds like we're going to learn more about a next-generation PlayStation sooner rather than later now that we have the PS5 Pro in our hands.

Read more
Dune: Awakening review: an MMO as dense as its source material
A player in front of a massive sandworm in Dune: Awakening concept art.

The first lesson I learned in Dune: Awakening was that I couldn't take Arrakis lightly.

I was still learning the ways of the desert when I attempted to cross a vast open stretch of sand toward my next quest objective. I hadn't even trekked halfway across the dunes before my heat meter was over half full, threatening sunstroke, and my hydration levels were empty. I didn't have time to notice when the vibration waves at the bottom of my screen turned red and a Sandworm was bearing down on me. I diverted course to a closer rocky outcropping and sprinted as fast as my legs could carry me, reaching salvation mere moments before the worm's jaws could swallow me whole.

Read more
My Best Buy Plus and Total members, don’t miss this Nintendo Switch 2 offer
The Nintendo eShop appears on a Switch 2 screen.

The Nintendo Switch 2 was just launched, but rewards are already up for grabs if you buy games and accessories from the Nintendo Switch deals at Best Buy. For every $150 that you spend on games and accessories for the Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch, you'll receive a $20 gift certificate. You can get rewards of up to $100, which you'll accumulate if you're going to make a $750 investment.

The only requirement to start collecting the gift certificates is that you should be a My Best Buy Plus or My Best Buy Total member. My Best Buy Plus, which costs $50 a year, gives you perks such as free two-day shipping and an extended 60-day return window on most products, while My Best Buy Total, which costs $180 a year, adds protection plans and 24/7 tech support, among lots of other benefits.

Read more