The video game for PC and smartphones “Magic Record: Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica Gaiden”which served as a spin-off of the iconic franchise “Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica”was announced the closure of its servers for next July 1st in Japan (for PC) and July 31st (for smartphones). This news marks the end of a significant chapter in the franchise's history.

The team behind “Magia Record” has announced that it is working on an “archive app” for the game, which will allow players to access certain offline parts of the game once the service ends. This change aims to preserve some of the game's most beloved elements by loyal fans.

“Magia Record: Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica Gaiden” was released for iOS and Android devices in Japan in August 2017. The game was free to play with optional in-app purchases. In June 2019, the English version was released in the West, but unfortunately it closed its servers in September 2020. Additionally, the television adaptation of the anime premiered in January 2020, with a second season in July 2021 and the third and final season in April 2022.

A new smartphone game in the franchise, titled “Madoka Magica: Magia Exedra,” is set to release this year.which keeps fans' hopes alive to continue exploring the Madoka Magica universe.

Why was it never as popular as the original?

While “Magia Record: Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica Gaiden” managed to add interesting nuances to the franchise, it faced numerous challenges that prevented it from achieving the popularity of its predecessor. One of the most notable criticisms is its origins as a gacha game. These games, especially those based on famous franchises, have a problematic reputation. Many fans associate them with low-quality products, designed more to generate revenue than to provide a good gaming experience. This perception led to widespread distrust of “Magia Record”, considering it an attempt to take money who contributed little to the franchise.

Furthermore, the structure and rhythm of “Magia Record” were points of criticism. While “Madoka Magica” is known for its concise and fast-paced storytelling, “Magia Record” moves much more slowly, especially during its first arc. The series repeats the big twist from “Madoka Magica” about the Witches being corrupted magical girls, but treats it as a big reveal, even though most of the audience already knew that fact. This made the series feel painfully slow for longtime fans.

Another problematic aspect was the lack of character development. The original “Madoka Magica” featured deeply realized characters, but “Magia Record” introduced a number of characters who didn’t receive the same level of development. While some characters like Yachiyo Nanami and Tsuruno Yui had touching arcs, many others blended into an amorphous mass with no defined personality, due to gacha games’ need for large character rosters.

“Magia Record’s” connection to the original “Madoka Magica” also worked against this. Since the first episode, the series has been based on the tradition of “Madoka Magica”, but in the third episode, the appearance of Mami Tomoe and then the inclusion of Madoka Kaname and Homura Akemi in the following seasons, highlighted the differences in the writing and they negatively affected the perception of the new characters. Furthermore, the less well-defined story of Iroha Tamaki, the protagonist of “Magia Record”, was a notable disadvantage compared to the well-developed Madoka.

The timing of the release of “Magia Record” was also unfavorable. While “Madoka Magica” stood out in 2011 for its unique storytelling at a time when there were few similar series, by 2020, the concept of dark magical girls was no longer so new. Furthermore, with several “Madoka Magica” film adaptations following the end of the original series, many fans felt they had already had enough “Madoka Magica” content, diminishing the appeal of a spin-off.

In summary, “Magia Record” is a fascinating franchise with good and bad elements, but in many ways it was limited by its connection to “Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica.” The original series was an era-defining anime, making any sequels struggle to live up to it, especially one set in the strange environment that “Magia Record” found itself in, with established characters that overshadowed new ones and a narrative that felt stretched out due to its origins as a gacha game.

Source: Official website