THE Simpsons fans have been dealt another blow just weeks after it was axed from Channel 4.
The beloved animated sitcom was ditched from its 6:30pm slot on Channel 4 after 20 years.
In a schedule shakeup, it’s been moved to sister channel E4 at the same time.
But in a further blow to fans, The Simpsons’ game has been discontinued for good.
Fans of The Simpsons: Tapped Out were told last September that the game would be shutting down in 2025.
After 13 years its servers were officially switched off on January 24th, marking the end of an era.
The game’s developers EA Games previously released a statement on its end.
They said: “We have made the difficult decision to sunset Tapped Out. In-app purchases have been disabled, and the game will be removed from the app stores on 31 October, 2024. You may continue playing until January 24th, 2025, at which point servers will be turned off and TSTO will not be accessible.
“The decision to end our 12-year journey is an emotional one. Together with our partners at The Simpsons and The Walt Disney company, we have delighted in bringing this game to you, the fans, and seeing how you’ve each built your own beloved versions of Springfield.
“It has been a remarkable journey, and we are grateful that we’ve been able to deliver 308 updates, 831 characters and including today’s final farewell 1,463 questlines.”
Reacting to its shutdown, one Simpsons fan said: “Goodbye The Simpsons Tapped Out. Played it pretty much every day since it launched in 2012. Gonna miss my version of Springfield that I spent so much time building.”
A second wrote: “I had this game on my phone longer than any other app ever released. Goodbye The Simpsons: Tapped Out.”
“Goodbye old friend,” said a third devastated fan.
The Simpsons celebrated its 35th anniversary last month.
A whopping 36 seasons have been produced since its debut episode in 1990.
The Simpsons ‘predictions’ over the years which came true
1992 – SUPER BOWL: In an episode titled Lisa the Greek, the brainiest Simpson tells dad Homer that the Washington Redskins will win if she still loves her dad, and the Buffalo Bills will win if she no longer does. In the end, Washington wins. The episode aired a few days before the actual Super Bowl, correctly depicting the outcome.
1995 – FACETIME: The episode Lisa’s Wedding predicted the technology down to the year it was announced – with a future scene set in 2010 showing a video call.
1998 – DISNEY CONGLOMERATE: In the episode When You Dish Upon a Star, Homer makes a comment about 20th Century Fox becoming a part of Disney Corporation. This became a reality 19 years later, in 2017.
2000 – DONALD TRUMP PRESIDENCY: The episode Bart to the Future features Lisa as US President. She’s seen talking to her staff about the “budget crunch” she inherited from former President Trump. Of course, businessman Donald Trump actually would become President 15 years after the episode aired.
2005 – CANADA’S MARIJUANA LEGALISATION: In Midnight Rx, Homer, Ned, Apu, and Grampa Simpson visit Canada and find out that Marijuana is legal. This legalisation would later become a reality in 2018.
2008 – E-VOTING ISSUE: Treehouse of Horror XIX sees Homer attempting to vote for Barack Obama on an e-voting machine, but the machine instead registered the vote for election rival John McCain. Four years later, in the 2012 election, an issue with vote swapping occurring at electronic voting machines.
2010 – OLYMPICS PREDICTION: In Boy Meets Curl, Homer and Marge win Gold against Sweden who claims silver at the Olympics. Eight years later, the prediction proved accurate with Sweden’s curling team winning silver against the US Men’s team at the 2018 Winter Olympics.
2010 – NOBEL PRIZES: Milhouse predicts in Elementary School Musical that Finnish MIT economics professor, Bengt Holmstrom, and Dutch chemist, Ben Feringa, would win Nobel Prizes in their respective areas. This would ultimately come true in 2016.
2012 – LADY GAGA/SUPER BOWL: In the episode Lisa Goes Gaga, Lady Gaga flies over the audience while attached to cables. Five years later, the pop star performed at at the Halftime show and descended from the stadium’s roof as her massive entrance.
2024: DONALD TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT: Following Donald Trump almost being assassinated in July 2024, Channel 4 pulled a repeat of an episode that originally aired in the 90s. The episode featured an active gunman could be seen on the roof of a building as a public gathering took place, similar to the staging at Trump’s rallies.
