Ho ho ho! Or whatever your favourite holiday mascot says. π
We’ve been working tirelessly all year adding to N++ and making it even better, and have we got gifts for you!
First of all, Aaron and Nick are working on the PS4 Ultimate Edition patch as we speak. So we’ll get that into cert as soon as we can and are hoping to have it to you by the end of the year, though that relies in part on Sony’s holiday hours. (UPDATE: The Ultimate Edition is now out on PS4! Hooray! π Here are some details and some insight into our design process over on the PS Blog: https://blog.us.playstation.com/2018/01/11/how-metanet-built-the-4000-levels-included-in-n-ultimate-edition/). Aaron’s also working on an update for Xbox One which will fix the stuttering and the sound issues a handful of you have been having.
Linux is on the way after that, so the six of you who have been itching to play it will finally be sated π jk, we love you Linux fans!
The Steam build just got a big update from Tatham, who has fixed a ton of small issues and has made the whole thing run even more beautifully. There will be another exciting update in the next little while with a few new fun things as well, so look out for that early in the new year.
There are a few other tidbits of news in the works we wish we could tell you about right now, but they’ll have to wait. Anyway get ready to be excited π We’ve been working hard behind the scenes on N++, as well as a few other things.
Let’s be honest, 2017 was not the best. It’s been dismal around the world, full of tragedies and political horrors. It’s been a stressful and difficult year for all of us, which for us has certainly impacted our goal to get N++ to more platforms and to increase the audience for this beautiful game (and our other goals), but we did succeed, launching the Ultimate Edition in March and bringing N++ to Xbox One, and to a brand new audience, in October.
N++ was in the top 5 for highest scores awarded on Metacritic throughout all of October, right beside Wolfenstein and Super Mario Odyssey: https://twitter.com/metanetsoftware/status/924363778124369926. And according to Metacritic, it received 2 awards:
- #3 Best Xbox One Game of 2017
- #64 Most Discussed Xbox One Game of 2017
#3 Best Xbox One Game of 2017! That’s awesome! π
N++ was also voted one of the top 250 Hidden Gems on Steam: https://steam250.com/hidden_gems.html, which is such an honour. That’s such an awesome validation that this game we’ve spent a decade refining really is awesome. We love that people find it exhilarating and beautiful, and even that it’s still one of those ‘best kept secrets’ — it means that there are people who haven’t heard of it yet, but who will love it when they do, and those moments are so special.
Hopefully those accolades will help introduce more players to the game, and inspire them to give it a try. Next year, we’re hoping to tie up all the last remaining loose ends of N++ so we can move towards some other goals and start exploring a few new ideas. To start out the year, we’re going to head off to Italy where Mare will be teaching part of a Game Design Masters program:
I've been so busy I forgot to announce I'll be teaching part of this Game Design Masters program next year in Milan! https://t.co/lzhyBxfDVF I'm extremely excited! π
— Rhymes With 'Rare' (@MareSheppard) December 15, 2017
(click for thread: https://twitter.com/MareSheppard/status/941805569328975872)
We’re looking forward to living in a different city for a couple of months, seeing new architecture and art, having interesting conversations and discussions, and soaking up all that inspiration. What an exciting adventure! We’re interested to see where it will lead, and what future projects that may contribute to.
And so we say goodbye to 2017 and look towards the future. The best gift you could give to us, gentle readers, is to help us spread the word about N++ far and wide. Let’s make it much less of a Hidden Gem in 2018! Why not invite people over and show them Solo, Co-op, Race, or whatever it was that drew you to the series in the first place. Hold a Race tournament in your local esports bar or with a meetup group. Make a video about what you love in N++, or help us convince one of those big streamers to check it out. We know some of you have been doing this already, and we really appreciate it! Please keep it up — every little bit helps <3
Let’s round out this post with one big thank you to all the players. We’re so, so glad that N++ has resonated with so many of you, and we hope to be able to make more games you might enjoy in future! We’re looking forward with optimism to 2018, and all the beautiful opportunities it might bring. It’s gotta be better than 2017 π
Happy Holidays everyone!
All the best,
from Mare and Raigan
Good to know that you guys are close to done with the PS4 UE patch! Merry Christmas and much love from down here in Texas! (Hoping it can get that far north π )
Here’s to 2018. Cheers, fellas.
Can’t wait for Linux version! Thank you for great platformer.
The penguins will not forget your kindness
Congrats on all the much deserved success! I hope you both get to relax in the near future (but secretly hoping you get a Nintendo Switch version out before that! LoL). Honestly though, not a week goes by where I donβt wish I could be playing N++ on my Switch on the tv or handheld mode. In fact, Iβve already made a promise to ten Switch owners that if it comes out for the Switch Iβll be gifting all ten of them the game.
Again, thanks for making such a great game and sharing your talents with all of us so we can enjoy your vision becoming a reality. Have a great New Year.
Well I would be one of those six Linux users. Can’t wait for it to come out on Linux properly, until then I guess I will have to deal with running it with wine. Too bad it does not pick up community levels correctly, I almost have the base game finished.
Is there any plan on Nintendo Switch?
Similarly , waiting for switch version π
hey, am glad you noticed and you are currently working on the Xbox sound issues. Eagerly waiting for the new experience with the latest update.