Shriveled up: Zynga puts FarmVille on iOS out to pasture in August

Anyone have an Unwither handy? Wait, stop looking--no amount of Unwither will help FarmVille for iOS now. Zynga has decided to cut the cord on the original, mobile app version of its farming simulator, according to FarmVille Freak. The below image gives FarmVille for iOS a mere 23 days before it meets its maker on Aug. 1, and it's no longer listed on the App Store.

Of course, Zynga suggests players pick up where they left off using FarmVille Express, the HTML5-powered companion app to the Facebook game that lets players manage their farms. This is far from the first Zynga game to close, but it appears to be the first mobile game for the developer to pull the plug on. For it to be tied to the game maker's flagship franchise only makes it sting that much more.

As for the "why", it's likely a matter of return on investment. FarmVille on iOS probably didn't have enough regular players--to Zynga standards, at least--to warrant pumping development resources into for updates and general upkeep. It's a shame, really, considering this was one of the few Facebook games gone mobile that actually brought in player's progress from Facebook. Perhaps that's not what the average player is looking for? We've reached out to Zynga for comment.

[Image Credit: FarmVille Freak]

Are you bummed to see FarmVille on iOS go the way of the dodo in lieu of FarmVille Express? Sound off in the comments. Add Comment.