Rocket Panda Games first announced in September that another update to Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds would be coming to PC and consoles in 2024. Unsurprisingly then, the studio recently announced that both Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds and Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Overdrive (as well as all of their DLC) will be removed from all digital stores on March 4th, 2024.
We want to share with you some important news regarding Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds. Back in June 2022 we announced that we had acquired the Phantom Breaker IP from MAGES. and became the new stewards for the direction of the franchise with much excitement and we would like to share with you about what the future holds for the Phantom Breaker universe.
One of our goals with every one of our games is to ensure the best possible gaming experience for fans as well as users new to the world of Phantom Breaker.
The staff at Rocket Panda Games have been fans of Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds since its original release over 10 years ago on Xbox 360. In that time, technology has advanced and the bar has only gotten higher for games. The engine on which the original games were built is simply not conducive to being updated or added to, which makes it impossible for us to make any meaningful updates or add new content.
If you’re a big PBBG fan, the fight doesn’t end here!
On September 23rd, 2023 we announced Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Ultimate for Steam (PC), the Epic Game Store as well as PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox S | X and Nintendo Switch for release in 2024.This new game will be a remaster of the exceptional beat ‘em up that you’ve come to love but we’re confident that the new version will captivate you with its enhanced online features, modern design, and re-tuned gameplay. The new Battle Grounds game is being developed in-house by Rocket Panda Games with some of the same developers responsible for the original Battle Grounds as well as Phantom Breaker: Omnia. Their love of the franchise will ensure that the gameplay will be rock-solid while adding modern features and a scalable backend.
What’s going to happen to Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds and Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Overdrive?
The current versions of Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds and Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Overdrive developed and published by MAGES. will be removed from all digital storefronts along with related DLC content on March 4th, 2024.While both games and related DLC will no longer be available for new purchases from March 4th 2024, current owners will retain access to the game in their game library and can continue enjoying it without interruption. Thank you for being a part of this extraordinary adventure, and we look forward to showing you more of Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Ultimate in the near future.
Rocket Panda Games Announcement – December 14, 2023
Rocket Panda provided an additional FAQ section providing more details about the existing games and players’ previous purchases.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
For any specific questions regarding the transition or the new game, please visit the official Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Ultimate website. For questions regarding Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds, contact our support here.How is Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Ultimate going to differ from vanilla Battle Grounds and Overdrive?
Ultimate is being built from the ground up in Unreal Engine 5 and contains quite a number of new features and improvements on top of the classic Battle Grounds experience. Visit the official website for more information at pbbgu.com.Can I still play the original Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds (PBBG) and Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Overdrive (PBBGOD) after they’re removed?
Yes, you will always be able to play the games’ offline modes as long as it remains in your library. All editions of PBBG and PBBGOD use their native platform’s online services. As long as those services are available, players should be able to matchmake and play online sessions. *Online functionality for the Vita version of PBBG is no longer available.Is there a way to migrate my progress to the new game?
Because the game will be running on a completely new engine made by a different developer, your progress from PBBG and PBBGOD will not be able to be transferred to Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Ultimate.Can I transfer my DLC purchases from the old game to Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Ultimate?
Previous DLC like the Kurisu Makise, Frau, Kemomimi Costume DLC, and FM sound generator BGM will be included in the base game of Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Ultimate. Any future DLC will have to be purchased for Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Ultimate as it is a brand new game in Unreal Engine 5.
With the IP changing hands and the new game being developed in-house it’s not surprising (but is no less disheartening) to hear that game progress and DLC purchases will not be coming forward. It’s also disappointing that the original Xbox 360 release, dating all the way back to 2013, was delisted ahead of this announcement in that big block of titles that disappeared around February 7th.
For anyone looking to scoop up the oldest, pre-Overdrive release you’ll have to head to Steam or the PlayStation Vita. The 2015/2017 Overdrive edition remains available on PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch until March 4th. Meanwhile, Phantom Breaker: Omnia, the 2022 update to the original Phantom Breaker: Extra appears to be sticking around.
Thanks to the anonymous reader who submitted the news to the site. We’ve added the date to the Watch List calendar and will have a page up on the site later.