Upcoming Switch Game Delayed by Hurricanes

The upcoming indie platformer Antonblast, which is in development for PC and Nintendo Switch, has been delayed to December 3 after hurricanes Helene and Milton impacted the team’s progress. Developer Summitsphere first revealed its “fast-paced explosive action” indie game in May 2022 with the launch of a Kickstarter campaign. Influenced by a range of titles, from Cuphead to Metro Dread to Crash Bandicoot, Antonblast is a side-scrolling platformer with a bright graphic style inspired by urban graffiti.

During September and October 2024, the southeastern United States has had to contend with two devastating hurricanes in short succession. Helene is currently the strongest hurricane on record to hit the Big Bend region of Florida. Hurricane Milton followed two weeks later, causing catastrophic flooding, tornadoes, and numerous casualties. Affected states include Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, and Tennessee, among others.

Developer Summitsphere has been impacted by the hurricanes and decided to postpone the release of Antonblast from November 12 to December 3, 2024. However, gamers who would like to check out the platformer before then can download the Antonblast: One Blast Demo that is now available as part of Steam Next Fest. A demo for the game on Nintendo Switch is also in the works.

Antonblast Delayed Due to Hurricanes Helene and Milton

According to the developer, Antonblast is “all about destruction,” and nearly everything in the game’s environment is destructible. Players have the choice to take on the role of either Dynamite Anton or his coworker Annie. Anton uses his giant hammer to smash his way through 12 different worlds and take on “screen-filling” bosses, all with the end goal of recovering the protagonist’s collection of Spirits, which have been stolen by Satan himself.

Featuring 2.5D graphics and hand-drawn animations, Antonblast allows players to move between the fore and background while making their way through the game. Players can rush through the levels, wreaking havoc as they go, or slow down to enjoy the views while listening to the retro-inspired soundtrack. Antonblast also offers several game modes, including Hard and Boss Rush. Despite the unexpected delay, Summitsphere’s zany platformer already has many gamers looking forward to its release, with several people noting its similarities to Nintendo’s popular Wario Land series.

While waiting for Antonblast to make its way to PC and Nintendo Switch, there are plenty of amazing indie platform games to check out. Not least among these is Shovel Knight, which partially inspired Summitsphere’s upcoming retro-themed title. Super Meat Boy features its own style of zaniness that gamers interested in Antonblast should enjoy, and Tour De Pizza’s Pizza Tower introduces a fun catering element to the classic genre.

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