Final Fantasy iOS Game Shuts Down Due to Curious In-App Purchase Bug - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Final Fantasy iOS Game Shuts Down Due to Curious In-App Purchase Bug

Square Enix today announced that iOS game Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles is shutting down immediately, due to some kind of in-app purchase bug.

final fantasy crystal chronicles
Apparently customers have been unable to access content purchased in the iOS app for the last several weeks, which Square Enix says is "due to changes made to the in-app purchases model." Apple hasn't made any known changes to in-app purchases in recent months, so it is not clear what Square Enix is referencing given the limited information provided.

Further, the company says that it is "unable to completely fix the bug and implement the new changes," which means support for Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles on the iPhone and iPad is ending.

The game has been removed from the App Store, and customers who made an in-app purchase in January 2024 or later can request a refund by contacting Square Enix support.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles offered online multiplayer and cross-platform play, allowing gamers to team up to conquer dungeons and earn loot. The remastered version of the game continues to be available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Android.

Update 8:28 pm: As noted by forum member An_mo_, Apple made a change to the security requirements for App Store receipts that went into effect the day before Square Enix reported receiving complaints, so it appears that may be related to the issue users were experiencing. If so, it still remains unclear why Square Enix was unable to update the app to support the new certificates.

Popular Stories

app store blue banner epic 1

Apple Asks Supreme Court to Pause Epic Games Case Ahead of App Store Fee Ruling

Monday May 4, 2026 4:08 pm PDT by
Apple today filed an emergency application with the Supreme Court, asking for a stay on App Store fee calculations while it waits to hear whether the Supreme Court will weigh in on the latest developments in its legal battle with Epic Games. Apple argues that without a stay, it will face irreparable harm. Apple says it will have to litigate the fundamentals of its business model with the...
rave app

Apple Sued for Pulling Co-Viewing App Rave From the App Store

Thursday May 7, 2026 10:41 am PDT by
Rave, a cross-platform service that lets users watch movies and TV shows together, today filed a series of antitrust lawsuits against Apple after Apple removed the Rave app from the App Store in August 2025. According to Rave, Apple cited "unspecified allegations of fraud and vague concerns about content moderation" when pulling the app. Rave alleges Apple targeted the service because Rave...
Liquid Glass App Store Feature

Apple Working on Plan to Allow AI Agent Apps on the App Store

Wednesday May 13, 2026 11:02 am PDT by
Apple is looking into ways to better support apps that include AI agents and AI coding capabilities in the App Store, reports The Information. Apple is designing a system that would maintain its security and privacy standards while allowing for AI app features, but details on how the system will work are unavailable. Apple started blocking updates for some popular vibe coding apps in March...

Top Rated Comments

gigapocket1 Avatar
17 months ago
Sounds like they was just looking for a reason to shut it down
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
josebus Avatar
17 months ago

Need to ask apple, cause I'm assuming square Enix is just using the official SDK, not custom API for in app purchases.
Never heard of any other app or game that was forever disabled due to Apple's SDK. The fact that they say they can't/won't fix it pretty much confirms it's on their end. They wanted to shut it down.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
thefrost Avatar
17 months ago
Why can't they fix it?
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
code-m Avatar
17 months ago
Sounds like a convenient exit strategy.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
GMShadow Avatar
17 months ago

Why can't they fix it?
Square's iOS ports have a long legacy of being pretty bad. It's a tradition.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Reason077 Avatar
17 months ago

Disagree about refunds for features/services already "consumed". Not "ideal". You received value for the purchase.
Not the value that was promised. It's an in-app purchase, not an in-app rental.

Imagine if you "purchased" an eBook on Amazon or a movie on Apple TV+, then it was disabled just a few months later so you could no longer view it. Wouldn't you expect a refund?

When Google shut down the Stadia gaming service, they automatically refunded every game and every in-app item that was ever purchased. Even if it was from years earlier!
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)