 | Digital Release | Nintendo Switch March 26, 2020 (NA) PlayStation 4 March 25, 2021 (NA) July 22, 2021 (AU, EU) |
| Delisting | March 26, 2020 - Nintendo Switch November 08, 2022 - PlayStation 4 |
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| Developer | 1st Playable Productions (1P) | |
| Publisher | Planet Entertainment (Original Release) Ravenscourt (Re-release) |
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| Available On | Retail Nintendo Switch PlayStation 4 |
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| Links | Cooking Mama: Cookstar homepage [Archive] |
Delisting
Cooking Mama: Cookstar was delisted from the Nintendo Switch on the day of its digital release date of March 26, 2020. Speculation around the delisting was based on early press statements that said the game would include some form of blockchain technology. After reports of the game crashing, “overheating”, and rapidly draining the Switch’s battery life, the assumption was made that some form of crypto-mining code was running in the background.
On April 6th, ScreenRant received word from a developer at 1st Playable Productions who explained that the game’s removal from sale (both physically and digitally) was caused by IP holder, Cooking Mama Ltd/Office Create. On the blockchain/crypto concerns, the developer added:
“The statement about crypto-currency was all buzz words. The head of planet entertainment knows very little about these things… he just put some fancy language to get potential investors who like that stuff. As for the crashes/ overheating. That would be because the game is made in unity. By many people working on their first game… it’s not the best product but it made it through several vigorous reviews by nintendo and Sony. There is no way crypto-mining stuff could get through those tests. I doubt anyone at 1p would even be able to make such a thing.”
They continued, describing the involvement of Office Create’s Japanese staff who felt the quality of the game wasn’t up to the series standards and allegedly wanted its release delayed or possibly canceled. Planet Entertainment pushed ahead with the release and Office Create retaliated by having the game delisted, production of physical copies stopped, and blocking the publication of ads and promotional content for the game. In a final comment, the source stated that “as I understand planet entertainment is sueing office create having it removed for money lost. It’s hard to say if it will ever be released properly.”
In 2021, the game’s European publisher Ravenscourt released a PlayStation 4 version of Cooking Mama: Cookstar alongside a reprint of the North American Switch release. The game remained available for sale until November 8th, 2022, when the game was removed from the PlayStation Store. On November 17th, Office Create released an official statement announcing that they had won their lawsuit against Planet Entertainment. The ruling from the Arbital Tribunal had forbade Planet from continuing to distribute the title in any fashion, physically or digitally.
Office Create’s full statement follows:
We would like to thank our fans and customers for their support over the years for the Cooking Mama franchise.
In August 2018, Office Create licensed Planet Entertainment, LLC (Headquarters: Connecticut, USA; “Planet”) to develop the Cooking Mama: Cookstar game for Nintendo Switch. Unfortunately, the quality of the game builds failed to meet Office Create’s standards that our customers expect and deserve. Planet was contractually obligated to correct identified deficiencies and resubmit the corrected builds for Office Create’s approval.
In March 2020, Planet released “Cooking Mama: Cookstar” for the Nintendo Switch (“Switch”) for sale in North America, Europe and Australia without Office Create’s approval. In response to the unauthorized Switch release, Office Create notified Planet of the immediate termination of Planet’s license to, among other things, use Office Create’s intellectual property pertaining to Cooking Mama. Despite the termination, Planet continued to sell the unauthorized and unlicensed Switch game.
In April 2021, Planet released “Cooking Mama: Cookstar” for the Sony PlayStation 4 (“PS4”) for worldwide sale except Asia. Office Create had not licensed any entity, including Planet, to develop a PS4 Cooking Mama game.
Office Create commenced arbitration before the International Chamber of Commerce International Court of Arbitration (“ICC”) against Planet and its CEO, Mr. Steve Grossman, to enforce its rights and enjoin further infringement from, inter alia, the manufacture, distribution and sale of the unauthorized “Cooking Mama: Cookstar” video games. By way of a Final Award dated October 3, 2022, the ICC Arbitral Tribunal has found, among other things, that Planet and Mr. Grossman were not authorized to release the Cooking Mama: Cookstar Switch and PS4 games in 2020 and 2021 respectively, that the license agreement had been validly terminated, that the unlicensed “Cooking Mama: Cookstar” products infringe Office Create’s trademarks under 15 U.S.C. § 1114 and common law and registered copyrights under 17 U.S.C. § 501, that they had engaged in unfair competition, that the packaging, labeling and games themselves falsely identify the origin of goods as “Office Create” in violation of 15 U.S.C. § 1125(a), and that they are financially liable for their conduct.
The Arbitral Tribunal has enjoined Planet and Mr. Grossman from selling, passing off, inducing, or enabling others to sell or pass off any product as a Cooking Mama product and/or otherwise suggesting any association/connection with Office Create or the Cooking Mama franchise. Office Create is undertaking all necessary steps to ensure that the infringing “Cooking Mama: Cookstar” video games (digital and physical copies) are removed from the market.
We thank our customers and loyal Cooking Mama fans for their continued support and sincerely regret any confusion and disappointment that has been caused by Planet’s and Mr. Grossman’s conduct.
– Cooking Mama: Cookstar Found to Infringe Office Create’s IP Rights
About the Game
“An update of the classic favorite Cooking Mama, for Nintendo Switch! Dozens of fun recipes to make, and a new “Plate it, Snap it” mode to share your creations.“
- All new Vegetarian Mode as well as Traditional Mode
- Classic recipes and fun new recipes like Unicorn Food
- Blend of handheld and motion controls
- Potluck mode with party games
Select Video Coverage
Thanks to @PieceofNick for submitting this game to the site