Velan Studios announced today that it will shut down Knockout City in just a few months. On June 6, 2023, the servers will be closed and the game will be no longer playable.
Regarding the decision, director Jeremy Russo said it was a “difficult” one to make, “but a necessary and important one for our studio.” An FAQ on the official site further explained that “a lot of our systems supporting long-term player retention are in need of significant changes” which is “virtually impossible to do” as a smaller studio with a limited team size that would also want to introduce new content. “This means stopping development on the Knockout City, and exploring new possibilities in future experiences, whether in Knockout City or a different world,” the FAQ states.
This week’s expanded Japanese software sales are as follows:
1. [NSW] Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life – 40,759 / NEW
2. [NSW] Pokemon Scarlet / Violet – 37,265 / 4,776,300
3. [PS5] Forspoken – 29,055 / NEW
4. [NSW] Fire Emblem Engage – 28,422 / 173,000
5. [NSW] Splatoon 3 – 14,844 / 3,848,543
6. [NSW] Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – 13,138 / 5,128,314
7. [NSW] Disgaea 7 – 10,359 / NEW
8. [NSW] Minecraft – 8,399 / 3,025,019
9. [NSW] Nintendo Switch Sports – 8,231 / 986,742
10. [NSW] Momotaro Dentetsu: Showa, Heisei, Reiwa mo Teiban! – 6,041 / 2,836,256
We have a closer look at 7 Days to End with You thanks to new gameplay. 13 minutes of footage has shown off the puzzle title and visual novel hybrid.
More information can be found in the following overview:
In an interview with Financial Post, Nintendo of Canada general manager Susan Pennefather commented on the performance issues players have experienced in Pokemon Scarlet and Pokemon Violet.
The biggest problem facing the two games currently concerns the frame rate. During normal gameplay, the action can chug and dip quite heavily. Some have also encountered glitches and general wonkiness while out in the open world.
Speaking with Financial Post, Pennefather had this to say:
Annapurna Interactive and Giant Squid shared a new launch trailer today for the Switch version The Pathless. After its debut in November 2021, it just reached Nintendo’s console.
Get caught up on everything you need to know in the following overview:
If a brief statement from Legendary Entertainment is to be believed, the Detective Pikachu 2 movie hasn’t been cancelled and is still on the way. A representative told Polygon that it’s still “in active development.” However, The Pokemon Company did not indicate who is currently working on the project when asked for a comment.
Detective Pikachu 2 was originally announced in 2019, even before the release of the first one. Oren Uziel, who wrote 22 Jump Street and a draft of Sonic the Hedgehog, also wrote an outline and screenplay for this film but representatives say he’s no longer involved. Benji Samit and Dan Hernandez, writers for the original Detective Pikachu, have also suggested they’re not on it.
Tying in with the arrival of Life is Strange 2 on Switch, a new launch trailer has gone live.
Below is the eShop description with further details:
Dust & Neon, the upcoming twin-stick cover-based shooter, now has a release date on Switch. Publisher Rogue Games and developer David Marquardt Studios will have it ready to go on February 16, 2023.
Dust & Neon was only just announced for Switch back in December. At the time, it was given a general 2023 launch window.
Nintendo just put out a new Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe trailer titled “Welcome to Merry Magoland”. The video introduces the various subgame-based attractions that up to four players can participate in.
For those looking to learn more about the game, read the following overview:
Original (1/30): MLB The Show 23 is coming to Switch, publisher Sony Interactive Entertainment and developer San Diego Studio just announced. The game launches on March 28, 2023 – just in time for the start of the new baseball season.
Jazz Chisholm Jr., an all-star for the Miami Marlins, has been named cover athlete.
