As more developers move towards self-publishing there is always the awkwardness of changing platform publishing rights.Games likeDestinyhave undergone the transitionbut the next franchise to get caught up in a bit of a tricky situation is that zany visual novel series,Danganronpa.
Publisher NIS America has announced that over the coming months, theDanganronpafranchise will be removed from the PlayStation Network. The franchise totals five games that will be removed from sale at select dates.
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The first game to be taken off the service on August 31 isDanganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girl, the action spin-off of the franchise on the PlayStation Vita. The following games that will be taken down on September 4 are the two Vita versions ofDanganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc, the original game in the franchise, and its sequelDanganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair. The last two titles to leave the service on September 25 are the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita versions ofDanganronpa V3: Killing Harmony.
The reason for the removal is due to publishing rights for the franchise changing with regards to the PlayStation releases. Developer Spike Chunsoft has moved to self-publish its library of games, forgoing alternative publishers. Since NIS America is the current publisher of the franchise on PSN, the games must be removed from the service. This very likely means that the removal of theDanganronpafranchise off PSN is temporary and they will return in time. No other platforms will be affected by this change in publishers.
The news ofDanganronpa’s change in publishers comes at an interesting time for the series and its writer. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the franchise and it was announced back in April thatDanganronpawould receive mobile ports. The mobile versions have released since the announcement to high user scores and praise from mobile players.
As for Kazutaka Kodaka, the writer and scenario planner for theDanganronpafranchise, today marks the release of his first project under his new independent studio.Death Come Trueis Kodaka’s first game in over a decade to not be part of the courtroom of despair simulator withDanganronpa.Death Come Trueis an FMV Horror Visual Novelthat appears to cross somewhere betweenPhantasmagoriaand428: Shibuya Scramble. With the game only coming out today, fans are getting their first taste of Kodaka unshackled from despair filled andoften insane stories ofDanganronpa.
TheDanganronpafranchise is currently available on PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 4, PC, and Mobile Platforms.
