Arr you ready, kids? Plunder Panic heads to PC next month, console versions to follow

In an early exclusive scoop today, Will Winn Games announced that it will release its highly anticipated multiplayer game Plunder Panic for PC on September 17, with console versions coming next year. The game will feature 12-player gameplay as well as a litany of different tools and weapons at players’ disposal in order to become the best pirate there is.

Will Winn Games — an independent developer founded by Michigan State University (MSU) faculty, students, and alumni — announced today the much anticipated release date for its swashbuckling 12-player action-arcade game Plunder Panic. Rival pirate crews will battle for supremacy on the high seas in this frantic multiplayer game on September 17, 2021, when it launches on Steam for PC. Plunder Panic will additionally launch on consoles in early 2022.

Inspired by classic SNES games, Plunder Panic blends retro graphics, arcadey action, and a boatload of online (and offline) gameplay modes and options to shiver even the most hardened pirates’ timbers. Two teams of up to six players must go all hands on deck and face off against each other, utilizing a variety of weapons, enchanted items, and power-ups. Quick, round-based matches begin as rival teams anchor their ships on the same island. Only the scurviest dogs will prevail once the action starts, with victory within reach if the rival team loses either too much of their gold, their ship gets scuttled, or if their precious captain takes a trip to Davy Jones’ locker. It’s up to teams to decide on an offensive or defensive approach!

With 12 players competing for victory in piracy, Plunder Panic is sure to be a hit for those looking for a fast-paced competitive title. The game was created thanks to the Michigan State University’s GameDev program, with the original version of the game being showcased at a slate of different trade shows:

“Following several successful showings at various trade shows over the last couple of years, it’s a dream come true to turn the Plunder Panic prototype into a full-fledged multi-platform game,” said Will Jeffery, Will Winn Games co-founder and MSU alumni. “While commercializing Plunder Panic is an important milestone for Will Winn Games, it is just the first step. We have a robust plan to grow a vibrant, profitable game studio in the mid-Michigan area, offering on-the-job, real-world, industry experience for students and employment opportunities for alumni.”

“MSU and Spartan Innovations has been an essential partner in the development of Plunder Panic and launch of Will Winn Games,” said Brian Winn, Will Winn Games co-founder and MSU professor. “Plunder Panic was developed by an excellent team of talented student employees from MSU’s Games for Entertainment and Learning (GEL) Lab. We’re collectively so incredibly excited to bring Plunder Panic to the masses starting with the Steam release in September.”

A prototype of Plunder Panic previously premiered at multiple trade shows, including IndieCade 2017, where it won the Audience Choice Award. Plunder Panic was also a finalist in the SXSW 2018 Gaming Pitch Competition and an official selection for the PAX East 2018 Showcase. Thanks to educational and financial resources provided by Michigan State University’s Spartan Innovations and Red Cedar Ventures, Will Winn Games was formed by Brian Winn (Director of the Games for Entertainment and Learning Lab at MSU) and Will Jeffery (MSU alumni and former Walt Disney Imagineer). Additional members of the Will Winn team include individuals with credits from Bungie and Insomniac Games. Will Winn Games licensed Plunder Panic from the university to make it into a full game release for PC and home consoles.

Plunder Panic releases on Steam in Early Access for PC on September 17, 2021 — just in time for National Talk Like a Pirate Day on September 19 — and can be wishlisted today at https://store.steampowered.com/app/1455900/Plunder_Panic. The game will also release on PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch in Q1 2022.

Stay tuned for more news here on Gaming Trend.

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