News from representatives of the cloud gaming service GFN.RU confirms that social networks are offline and that the platform will wind down operations on October 1. The company outlined a planned phased halt, with key limitations taking effect ahead of the final shutdown. In practical terms, new user registrations and the sale of subscriptions longer than one week would be disabled starting September 1, and after a month the service would cease entirely. Users holding active subscriptions at that time would receive refunds for any unused time, processed automatically where possible.
Official statements indicated that, beginning October 1, 2023, the servers would stop functioning. The company asked users to anticipate delays in refunds, with a suggested processing window extending to October 15 due to the volume of requests. If a response was not received by that date, customers were advised to reach out to support. The partners involved in the refund process were named as part of the plan; refunds for subscriptions purchased through partner platforms would be coordinated with those partners to ensure reimbursements were issued as appropriate. These details were communicated through GFN.RU’s social channels and supported by accompanying notes from the team.
GFN.RU launched in October 2019 and offered a cloud-based gaming experience that allowed titles to run on compatible devices, even those with limited hardware. The service operated by running games on high-performance servers and streaming the video output to users’ screens, enabling gameplay without demanding local processing power. The project originated from the SAFMAR group and leveraged Nvidia GeForce NOW technology as its core platform. Partner relationships included M.Video-Eldorado and Rostelecom, which helped expand access and distribution across different user bases.
There had been prior public remarks about showcasing the 800 USD Lenovo Legion Go portable console on September 1, signaling ongoing development in the broader cloud gaming ecosystem. This context placed GFN.RU within a competitive landscape where hardware advancements and streaming capabilities were evolving rapidly, affecting how cloud services positioned themselves and communicated with users about future plans and device partnerships. Other observers noted that the broader market was watching for shifts in partnerships, refunds policies, and platform stability as cloud gaming continued to mature and scale across various regions. [Citation: GFN.RU official statements; partner communications]