Battle royales have been a money spinner in the video game world for quite a few years now, but the formula doesn't work for everything. Namco gave Pac-Man the BR treatment in 2021, launching Pac-Man 99. However, two years later, Nintendo has confirmed the BR take on the iconic video game will be shut down and delisted later this year.
Nintendo broke the news that support for Pac-Man 99 will come to an end on October 8, 2023, on Twitter (thanks, VGC). "On 08/10/2023, the online service for PAC-MAN 99 will end and the game will no longer be available as part of a Nintendo Switch Online membership," Nintendo announced.
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Pac-Man 99 has been free to play since launch for anyone who has a Nintendo Switch Online subscription. However, the game has paid DLC which includes the ability to play various modes offline should players want to do so. Nintendo has confirmed even though Pac-Man 99's main online mode will shut down on October 8, its offline options will remain playable to those who have them.
If you want to continue playing Pac-Man 99 offline after October 8, then you will need to buy its DLC the month prior. Your last chance to buy its Deluxe Pack or Mode Unlock DLC will be September 8. If you want any of the game's custom themes, you'll need to make sure you've bought them before August 8. After that date, the ability to give Pac-Man 99 a coat of paint associated with another Namco game will be gone unless you already own the themes.
Pac-Man 99 followed in the successful footsteps of Tetris 99 and Super Mario Bros. 35 on the Nintendo battle royale front. Tetris 99 launched in 2019 and has been a massive success, remaining available and free to play today. Nintendo took a slightly different approach with Super Mario 35. Also free to play, the game was only available for a limited time while Nintendo celebrated the plumber's 35th anniversary.
Pac-Man 99 might be shutting down, but the video game icon has been getting a lot of attention lately. Pac-Man World's remake launched last year, and the creators of the original game are now credited after not being included at launch. There's also supposed to be a live-action Pac-Man movie in the works, although there hasn't been an update on that project since last summer.
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