Bandai Namco announced that the battle royale spin on the pellet-munching classic PAC-MAN 99 will discontinue its online services on October 8, which are currently available as part of the benefit for Nintendo Switch Online members.
Anyone who owns the paid DLCs for the title such as PAC-MAN 99 Deluxe Pack or PAC-MAN 99 Mode Unlocks will still be accessible offline even after the end of service. It means that players are still able to play at least, the CPU Battle Mode, Blind Time Attack Mode, and Score Attack Modes. Any custom background themes and skins for the game will also be usable in the offline game modes.
The ending schedule for the online service has also been posted alongside the announcement, detailing how the distribution of the main game and sales of the DLC will be ending accordingly:
August 8, 2023 (Tue) 8:00 AM PDT – Discontinuation of Paid Custom Themes
September 8, 2023 (Fri) 8:00 AM PDT – Suspending the sale of Deluxe Pack and Mode Unlock DLC
October 8, 2023 (Sun) 9:00 PM PDT – Ending of online services for the main game/ distribution of the main game and free custom themes via Nintendo Online
▍About PAC-MAN 99
First launched on April 7, 2021, PAC-MAN 99 is a maze video game with battle royale elements developed by Arika and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment for the Nintendo Switch. The game tests players chomping prowess against 98 other players in a free-for-all format where the last PAC-MAN standing is the winner.
Eat the energizers scattered around the field to wolf down the wandering ghosts, and send them away to an opponent player, where they’ll appear as Jammers that’ll hinder their movement options. The more ghosts you eat, the more Jammers you’ll send!
Ghost trains are a comeback mechanic that can occasionally occur during play. First introduced in PAC-MAN Championship Edition DX, these connected smaller specters when eaten will send out a load of Jammers to all players you target.
The game also features additional game modes to change things up with downloadable game contents that add battles against CPUs, a Score Attack Mode, and a Blind Time Attack mode that sees you racing against the clock to eat all twelve fruits in a run!
PAC-MAN 99 is currently available for Nintendo Switch via Nintendo eShop.
