Fast forward to 2020, Nickelodeon has signed a new publishing deal with THQ Nordic. The release of SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom Rehyrdated, a complete remake of the cult classic for modern consoles, is just six weeks away. From the new multiplayer horde mode to its release date and F.U.N. retail editions, here’s everything that fans need to know about SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom Rehyrdated.
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What is SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom?
For those that never got the chance to play the original, SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom is an action-adventure platformer that released on PS2, Xbox, GameCube, GameBoy Advance, and PC in 2003. The game was developed by Heavy Iron Studios and published by THQ; players can play as Spongebob, Patrick, and Sand, on a quest to stop Plankton from taking over Bikini Bottom with an army of evil robots. The remake is being developed by Purple Lamp Studios and published by THQ Nordic.
What’s New in Rehydrated?
Battle for Bikini Bottom Rehydrated isn’t a remaster of the classic PS2 game but a complete remake, built from the ground up on Unreal Engine 4 and features significantly improved visuals, resolutions, gameplay, and a remastered soundtrack. On top of that, developer Purple Lamp Studios has created a brand new multiplayer horde mode for up to two players that can be played across split-screen or online play, as well as remade content that was cut from the original game such as the Robo Squidward boss fight shown in the game’s trailer.
Release Date and Platforms
SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom Rehyrdated is going to be released worldwide next month, on June 23, 2020. The remastered game will be available on all the usual platforms including Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. In case anyone was looking out for a mobile port, THQ has not made any official announcement.
Retail Editions
Unfortunately, SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom Rehyrdated doesn’t have any pre-order bonuses on offer but it does have a couple of F.U.N. editions for fans to get excited about. Of course, there Standard Edition is available which includes a copy of SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom Rehyrdated. Next up is the Shiny Edition which includes a copy of the game, a SpongeBob Figurine with Golden Spatula and flexible tongue, Wallstickers, 6 Lithographs, and SpongeBob SquarePants themed tennis socks. Finally, fans can pre-order the F.U.N. Edition which includes all of the previously mentioned items, as well as an additional Patrick Figurine (7"/18cm), Sandy Figurine (8"/20cm), and a set of Tiki Keyrings.
While SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom Rehyrdated wasn’t publicly delayed, it was originally rumored to be released on May 22 according to an old Nintendo infographic. THQ Nordic was initially looking to release the remake around the same time as the upcoming third Spongebob movie, The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run. However, unfortunately, the film was officially delayed from May to August 7, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
THQ Nordic has made quite the name for itself since obtaining the THQ trademark in 2014 following the liquidation of THQ. Not only did it obtain the publishing rights for SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom in a new publishing deal with Nickelodeon, THQ Nordic also purchased several developers including Darksiders III developer Gunfire Games and MX vs. ATV developer Rainbow Studios, as well as the rights for franchises including Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, Alone in the Dark, and TimeSplitters.
SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom Rehyrdated will be released on Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on June 23.
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