Konami has officially announced the termination of server services for its video games Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel and Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links, exclusively within the territories of Russia and Belarus. Through notices posted within both game platforms on May 15, 2026, the company informed the communities in these countries about the scheduled server shutdown, marking the cessation of operations in the region.
When Will Konami Shut Down the Servers for Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel and Duel Links in Russia and Belarus?
According to in-game notifications, the server shutdown in Russia and Belarus will take effect on June 15, 2026, for both Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel and Duel Links. Specifically for Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links, the end of service will occur precisely at 3:00 PM Japan Standard Time (JST).
In its official statements, Konami expressed gratitude to the affected users, stating: “We would like to thank all players for their great support. We could not have come this far without you. Although there is little time left until the end of service, we hope you will continue to enjoy Yu-Gi-Oh!.”
Konami explicitly clarified in its warning that this announcement applies solely and strictly to the services in Russia and Belarus, thereby excluding players from these regions from this year’s competitions. Consequently, no changes or modifications will be made to game support in any other part of the world. It is important to note that as of the publication of the notice, Konami has not provided any formal reason or institutional justification for this decision to cease operations for Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel and Duel Links in Russia and Belarus.
