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SNK Playmore is closing once again [Update] photo

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.] 

SNKP closing again: 
Here we go again.  SNK will exit direct sales by year end and plans to distribute new stuff thru Ignition USA.  I will help them close down again but my full time duties end June 30th.
Maybe something changed between now and then, but them's the president's words. Maybe they're relocating without telling him or something.







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Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize. Likes PS2, iPod Touch, Silent Hill 2, Metal Gear Solid, Dynasty Warriors 3 Meet the rest of the team



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57 comments | showing # 1 to 50
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Zombutler's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/13/2008 17:29
Zombutler
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO I don't care
Y0j1mb0's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/13/2008 17:30
Y0j1mb0
Well there goes a next-gen 2-D HD SNK Fighter.
Zombutler's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/13/2008 17:30
Zombutler
Although now that I think about Metal Slug 3 is very fun...
Shin Oni's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/13/2008 17:31
Shin Oni
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.
Vongore's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/13/2008 17:31
Vongore
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"
deiga-the-semivaliant's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/13/2008 17:31
deiga-the-semivaliant
It just seemed like yesterday that everyone was lamenting the death of SNK. Now it's happening again?
king3vbo's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/13/2008 17:33
king3vbo
Damn, that sucks... no Metal Slug 7 :(
AliasWyvernspur's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/13/2008 17:36
AliasWyvernspur
Booooooo, and I still want more Neo Geo Pocket games.
eightcell's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/13/2008 17:39
eightcell
That's what they get for Card Fighter's DS.
Excel-2011's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/13/2008 17:40
Excel-2011
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.
ParaParaKing's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/13/2008 17:41
ParaParaKing
NO! What will happen to the new King of Fighters??
HarassmentPanda's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/13/2008 17:44
HarassmentPanda
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.
DaedHead8's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/13/2008 17:45
DaedHead8
/sadface
CronosBlade's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/13/2008 17:50
CronosBlade
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.
KidKobun's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/13/2008 17:50
KidKobun
This deserves a big ol' Darth Vader / Anikin "Nooooooooooooooooooo!!!!"
Bengoshia's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/13/2008 17:50
Bengoshia
Who cares? They haven't made a decent game in forever.
CronosBlade's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/13/2008 17:52
CronosBlade
It was actually April 17th, first link on the list:

http://www.ignitionusa.com/press.htm
KidKobun's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/13/2008 17:53
KidKobun
Cronos Blade is right. Still sad though...no SNK in the USA...sniffle, sniflle.
PsychoSoldier's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/13/2008 17:53
PsychoSoldier
I am now very sad.
Jim Sterling's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/13/2008 17:54
Jim Sterling
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.
CronosBlade's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/13/2008 17:54
CronosBlade
Also, Metal Slug 0 says hi.

CronosBlade's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/13/2008 17:57
CronosBlade
Muchos Garzas Senor Jim.
Pariah's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/13/2008 17:58
Pariah
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.
Cheeburga's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/13/2008 18:02
Cheeburga
A solid Meh.
KidKobun's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/13/2008 18:08
KidKobun
By Capcom Pariah do you mean the ex Developers of SNK...oooo sick burn.
Shin Oni's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/13/2008 18:10
Shin Oni
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.
CronosBlade's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/13/2008 18:11
CronosBlade
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
Shin Oni's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/13/2008 18:15
Shin Oni
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.
KidKobun's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/13/2008 18:21
KidKobun
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
s0lesurviv0r's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/13/2008 18:39
s0lesurviv0r
Maybe they can buddy up with Atlas or Aksys to release games in the states.
Brian Szabelski's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/13/2008 18:48
Brian Szabelski
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?!?!?!?!?!
GigaMach's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/13/2008 18:53
GigaMach
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?
LongDeth's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/13/2008 19:00
LongDeth
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.
Vongore's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/13/2008 19:05
Vongore
@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
Cowboy TTop's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/13/2008 19:13
Cowboy TTop
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.
OhJAM's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/13/2008 19:15
OhJAM
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?
Wedge's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/13/2008 19:24
Wedge
So it's just their US publishing branch closing then? OK.
Crunshii's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/13/2008 19:45
Crunshii
Maiiii Nuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
The Unforgivable's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/13/2008 19:54
The Unforgivable
Mai. Hawt.
Rifter01's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/13/2008 20:06
Rifter01
I wish SNK would stay awhile longer... and stay FOREVER!
Shin Oni's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/13/2008 20:17
Shin Oni
it's obvious Mai's Boob run in America is quite over.
michiyoyoshiku's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/13/2008 20:28
michiyoyoshiku
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.
parrothead's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/13/2008 20:46
parrothead
WOW no more fighters that I will never play
nilcam's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/13/2008 20:56
nilcam
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.
stafax's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/13/2008 21:19
stafax
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.
Dr Milkdad's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/13/2008 22:07
Dr Milkdad
Kotaku just rumor smashed this.
Dr Milkdad's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/13/2008 22:11
Dr Milkdad
By rumor smash, I mean, they say SNK USA is not closing down.

Any other updates?
badoor's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/13/2008 22:38
badoor
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
Rhacodactyls's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/13/2008 23:25
Rhacodactyls
I don't know exactly how to feel right now...
Bob Muir's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/14/2008 00:57
Bob Muir
Sounds like there's nothing to worry about.
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