I just received word from a source of mine that SNK Playmore, the Neo-Geo creator responsible for such classic titles as The King of Fighters and Metal Slug, will soon be closing its doors, at least in the US. This summer, the company will officially cease direct sale of its games and will instead see distribution duties go to Ignition USA.
In 2001, the original incarnation of SNK closed as well, with company founder Eikichi Kawasaki investing in a new company known as Playmore. By 2003, Playmore had become SNK Playmore, sometimes just referred to by the original name of SNK. The new distribution plans happened a while back, but it seems like things are a bit more serious.
No word on whether this is just SNKP US or if this affects Japan as well. What I do know is that a lot of SNKP US people are out of a job. Well, pretty much everyone from what I know. We'll let you know more when we hear it.
[Update: This was apparently proven false, but all I have to go on is a leaked email from SNKP US president Ben Herman. I can't do more than talk about what I read, and I have included the exact words after the jump for you to see if there is any other conclusion I might be able to draw from it.]
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![SNK Playmore is closing once again [Update] screenshot](http://www.destructoid.com/elephant/ul/85869-snkmomore.jpg)
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NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO I don't care
Well there goes a next-gen 2-D HD SNK Fighter.
Although now that I think about Metal Slug 3 is very fun...
so I assume KoF XII will be the actual....FINAL KoF? cause that'd kinda suck.
either way, most people consider the actual SNK dead even after the SNK Playmore era.
So, what will happen to the proyects, will King of Fighters XII and the new Samurai Shodown be cancelled?
That or i have a bad idea about "closing it's doors"
It just seemed like yesterday that everyone was lamenting the death of SNK. Now it's happening again?
Damn, that sucks... no Metal Slug 7 :(
Booooooo, and I still want more Neo Geo Pocket games.
That's what they get for Card Fighter's DS.
That's what they get for not making more original series that actually have a chance of localization.
Still, this is very gay and cannot end well for anyone.
NO! What will happen to the new King of Fighters??
I'm sure these IPs aren't dead; other companies will most likely purchase them and revive them. However, I have a real soft spot for SNK and will be sad to see them go.
/sadface
I don't believe SNK Plamore is actually closing. They're just not doing the distribution. The press release for Ignition taking over the distribution duties was back at the beginning of May, the first game being Metal Slug 7 for the DS.
If anything it just means SNK Playmore will close offices in the US.
This deserves a big ol' Darth Vader / Anikin "Nooooooooooooooooooo!!!!"
Who cares? They haven't made a decent game in forever.
It was actually April 17th, first link on the list:
http://www.ignitionusa.com/press.htm
Cronos Blade is right. Still sad though...no SNK in the USA...sniffle, sniflle.
I am now very sad.
Cronos: Well, the words used were "SNK Playmore is closing" in the thing I have. Might just be the US though. All I know is, some high ups are losing their jobs.
Edited original post to lend some more context.
Also, Metal Slug 0 says hi.
Muchos Garzas Senor Jim.
Maybe Capcom will feel sorry for them and help em out a bit...I would love a live compatible Capcom vs Snk2 Eo sequel...or Microsoft to update BC and add it so I can whip up online again.
A solid Meh.
By Capcom Pariah do you mean the ex Developers of SNK...oooo sick burn.
well...SNK wasn't really all that big in the US to begin with. So it's not really a total loss.
Just means we'll have to revert to importing SNK games.....again. I blame SNK's stupidity in bringing the wrong games over and Sony for cockblocking single release 2d SNK games on the PS2.
Shin Oni - Nope, Ignition will be handling the US distribution. So yes, Metal Slug 7 etc will still be coming here.
Provided I'm not wrong on all of SNK Playmore shutting down :P
ah sorry. didn't completely read it right.
hopefully Ignition will do better with releasing SNK games on this end...if they have any word or say on what gets released.
definitely agree with Shin Oni on SCEA cockblocking SNK Playmore USA. Couldn't be more true...yet they can release a thousand versions of SF. WTF!? @_o
Maybe they can buddy up with Atlas or Aksys to release games in the states.
Noooo, we need moar SNK games.
Yes, I know they're not closing, but still... I will miss the SNK Playmore branding. Why do they die and SegaSammy gets to live? WHY?!?!?!?!?!
Holy crap, does no one READ? If distribution rights are going to Ignition, they must have product to distribute, right? SNK is simply closing it's US branch, and distributing it's ports (all done in Japan) through Ignition US. I just think that they finally realized that Ben Herman doesn't do much and they can have better business through a third party distributor.
That's my take, and I'm sticking to it. Sad to See SNK US closing down, but as long as we continue to get games, who cares where they come from?
Could be better this way anyhow. Remember the awful glitch in Card Fighters DS that kept you from going up both sides of the tower? That was SNK US's fault.
@Gigamatch
You are the one that's not reading, Jim updated the post after noticing that he didn't wrote that it the Us brach was the only one closing
This is news, but nothing to worry about. SNK aren't as big as they once were and are developing fewer games than before (or so it seems). Perhaps such cutbacks, can allow them to focus more, on games development again in japan.
Don't worry, there are still SNK games being made, but its obviously harder for SNK in todays games market conditions. I think SNK know, they need to shake things up and diversify more to stay in business, hence the upcoming Guilty Gear game on 360, not being just another beat em up.
Their goods will be in good hands, because Ignition have been handling most, if not all SNK's U.K/EU game distribution for a while now, and a fine job they do too. The U.S wing will do the same.
Fear not Dtoiders.
Okay, if we're cutting the expensive arm off to just distribute through a different company, then just give us MOTW and Last Blade before your US operation goes 100% belly-up. That'd be the way to go out.
Come on, outside of Metal Slug DS and KOF12, what else are they good for beyond that?
So it's just their US publishing branch closing then? OK.
Maiiii Nuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
Mai. Hawt.
I wish SNK would stay awhile longer... and stay FOREVER!
it's obvious Mai's Boob run in America is quite over.
I'm glad
SNdelay USA is done for and a competent publisher is taking over for them. I wish Sega would do the distro but I'll take what I can get.
WOW no more fighters that I will never play
SNKP Japan just signed a deal with Ignition to do their US publishing. This is a blessing since SNKP USA fucked up so many things. Most of the anthologies they've put out recently have lacked progressive scan because, in their infinite wisdom, they decided to port the PAL versions instead of the NTSC Japan version. I will never understand that decision. NTSC J to PAL to NTSC USA. I think that sums up their philosophy at SNKP USA.
Farewell. I won't miss your ineptitude.
This is very disappointing. SNK makes high quality games, and you can tell a lot of heart is put into them. But they hardly make any revenue since the people being these games are no more then a cult following of fans. Yet on the other end of the spectrum, we have Midway that makes halfassed Mortal Kombat games that have little to no heart put into the development, and they make enough money to make more shit like Area 51.
Kotaku just rumor smashed this.
By rumor smash, I mean, they say SNK USA is not closing down.
Any other updates?
SNK USA(which btw never devloped any game, just did localization)is closing down but that doesn't mean there won't be any new games fom SNK. Its just that in the USA snk games will be published and localized by Ignition
I don't know exactly how to feel right now...
Sounds like there's nothing to worry about.
Capcom Vs SNK 3 plz
I doubt that SNK would close again, I think they have enough of a following to pay their bills. Probably... Hopefully...
And Mai? She can lick her own boobs for all I care.
Wait... Thats actually pretty hot.
Mm, after my friend's recent customer service clusterfuck with SNK Playmore USA, nothing would surprise me at this point.
Meh...good old *not* emulation is for me!
Nice picture.
Wasn't rumor smashed. Something is definitely up.
I don't think they'll close again... but I also don't care too much.