Mighty No. 9 3DS and Vita Pre-Orders Axed by Amazon
Mighty No. 9 was once a beacon of hope for fans of the classic Mega Man series. Created by Keiji Inafune, it promised to revive the beloved franchise with the help of a $4 million crowdfunding campaign. However, the journey was fraught with delays and disappointments. Recently, Amazon canceled preorders for the 3DS and PlayStation Vita versions, over a decade after they were first promised. Let's dive into the saga of Mighty No. 9 and what led to this surprising development.
The Rise and Fall of Mighty No. 9
Back in 2013, the Mighty No. 9 Kickstarter campaign was announced at PAX. It quickly surpassed its initial goal of $900,000, eventually reaching $4 million. This stretch goal promised versions for 3DS and Vita, alongside PC and console editions. Fans eagerly awaited the 2015 release, but delays pushed it to 2016, and the handheld ports never materialized.
Behind the Scenes Struggles
Comcept, the team led by Inafune, was acquired by Level-5 in 2017. This acquisition was cited as a reason for the delay in the handheld ports. Despite assurances to backers that the ports were still in progress, no tangible progress was made.
- Abstraction Games was initially subcontracted for the porting process.
- Destructoid's investigation revealed no actual work had been done.
- Engine Software later took over, but updates ceased.
The Long Wait Ends
In 2022, Stuart Gipp shared Amazon UK's cancellation notice for the 3DS version. The message cited "a lack of availability" as the reason for the cancellation. This marked the end of a long and frustrating wait for many fans who had placed their orders as far back as February 16, 2022.
Current Status of Key Players
While the ports never came to fruition, Inafune has moved on to other ventures. He ventured into NFTs in 2022 and remains involved in Level-5's upcoming RPG, Fantasy Life in The Girl Who Steals Time.
The Mighty No. 9 saga serves as a cautionary tale in the world of crowdfunding and game development. It highlights the challenges and complexities that can arise even with significant financial backing. For fans of Mega Man and Mighty No. 9, the journey may have ended in disappointment, but the lessons learned remain invaluable.
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