Yacht Club Games has announced the boxed version of Shovel Knight for Xbox One has been cancelled due to “publishing policies on the [Xbox One] that are beyond our control.”
“We’ll keep fighting to get a retail version on Xbox One,” it continued. “But as of now, the boxed version is in indefinite limbo. The digital version of Shovel Knight on Xbox One is already available and, of course, will continue to receive new updates and our full support.”
Shovel Knight will be available at retail stores from November 3 in North American and October 30 in Europe. The PS4, Wii U,3DS, and–exclusively in Europe–PC release will include the original game and the Plague of Shadows expansion and a digital version of the soundtrack.
Additional updates planned for the game, including Battle mode, the Specter Knight’s campaign, King Knight’s campaign, and more, will also be available when they’re released.
Although Yacht Club originally said the game would cost $19.99 at retail, the price has increased to $24.99.
“Although everyone initially agreed to a $19.99 price point, some retailers ran into trouble with limited space to show off their wares, and the rules in place about where games with certain prices are displayed,” the studio explained. “We didn’t want our ‘bargain priced’ game to go straight to the bargain bin of obscurity, so we had to raise the price.
“We didn’t want anyone to feel as if they were getting hoodwinked just because of our retail situation! If you have already pre-ordered Shovel Knight, your retailer should honour the original price!”
Finally, Yacht Club addressed those asking for a physical release for the Vita version, saying it is “working our hardest to make it possible,” but not committing to a release date.
“While we can confirm one won’t be shipping this holiday, we are still working our hardest to make it possible! Hang in there a bit longer, and hopefully we can make something happen!’
GameSpot’s Shovel Knight review awarded the game a 7/10, saying its “inherent charms are timeless.”
The review continues: “Shovel Knight is a good reminder that game design does age but can never die and that simple mechanics can still be immensely satisfying. But this is not another classic.”