One of Nintendo’s classic franchises, Punch-Out!!, may not be making a comeback anytime soon. While Nintendo stalwarts like Super Mario, Zelda, Pokemon, and Animal Crossing continue to thrive, many other beloved series often see revivals on new consoles. However, new information suggests that Punch-Out!!, dormant since its Wii release, is unlikely to return.
According to reporter Imran Khan, Nintendo seems to have no current plans to revive the arcade boxing series. Punch-Out!! debuted in arcades in 1984, followed by the iconic Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! on NES in 1987. Super Punch-Out!! landed in 1994, and the franchise remained quiet until its 2009 Wii revival.
Unexpected Backlash Contributed to Franchise’s Hiatus
Despite the Wii version’s popularity, a new Punch-Out!! on the Switch seems improbable. Khan reports that, based on a conversation with someone closely involved with the Wii game, the character roster received more negative feedback than anticipated. This reportedly led Next Level Games, the developers behind the Wii version, to move on to projects like Luigi’s Mansion 3, which offered higher sales potential.
Concerns Over Stereotypes Led to Development Halt
“The story I was told, and bear in mind this could just be the perspective of one person and no one else, was that there was significantly more backlash against the characters of the [Punch-Out!!] Wii game than they expected,” Khan explained. He further noted the development team’s efforts to assure Nintendo they weren’t relying on harmful stereotypes, only for the project to be shelved due to the concerns raised and the potential for other games to generate significantly more sales.
Will Punch-Out!! Ever Return?
This news is undoubtedly disappointing for Punch-Out!! fans. However, Nintendo could always reconsider in the future. With the rumored Nintendo Switch 2 launch potentially slated for 2025, perhaps the new console’s lineup could surprise fans with the return of some classic franchises. Only time will tell if Little Mac will step back into the ring.
