Disney is flying its Club Penguin virtual world to a new platform as more users migrate to mobile gameplay. On March 29, Disney will cease operations on the brand’s current online and mobile products, and plans to relaunch the IP as a new app entitled Club Penguin Island.
Disney has not announced an exact launch date for the new app, though it’s likely to debut before Club Penguin shutters.
For now, players and paid members with access to exclusive content and customization tools can still log in and experience the desktop and mobile version of Club Penguin.
But memberships will not be transferred to Club Penguin Island. Players can, however, pre-register for the upcoming app to reserve their penguin’s name.
Club Penguin was co-created and co-founded by Lane Merrifield and Lance Priebe in 2005 and sold to Disney in 2007 for US$700 million. In 2011, Club Penguin was the largest virtual world for kids ages six to 12, with registered users in more than 190 countries.
Disney expanded the property to mobile in 2013, and by 2015, reported that up to 40% of Club Penguin’s 220 million global users accessed the site through mobile devices.