Thursday, April 30, 2020

Kongregate Developing New 'SpongeBob SquarePants' Idle Game; To Release in 2021

Kongregate, a leading US-based developer and publisher of browser, mobile, PC and console games, will be launching a brand new "idle game" based on Nickelodeon's beloved animated series SpongeBob SquarePants in 2021! The spongeriffic news was announced by Swedish international entertainment group Modern Times Group (MTG), who owns the game publisher and web gaming portal, during the company's Q1 2020 earnings call.


"[We're] excited to announce that in continued partnership with Nickelodeon, Kongregate has developed -- will be developing SpongeBob SquarePants idle game that will be launched in 2021," said Jørgen Madsen Lindemann, Modern Times Group Mtg AB - President & CEO during the company's earnings call, adding "SpongeBob remains one of Nickelodeon's biggest franchises, being loved by millions of fans worldwide. And we are very pleased to see that Kongregate will be able to work with such a strong IP."

It's currently unknown whether the new SpongeBob SquarePants game will web-based or be released as a stand-alone app. Over the last year, Nickelodeon has shifted the way it releases new games. Nickelodeon used to release new games on its official website, nick.com (and its international variations), however, following a website refresh last year, Nickelodeon now opts to release new games either as standalone apps (or through the Nick App), or through mobile gaming subscription services, such as Apple Arcade.

"Idle games", better known as incremental games (also known as clicker games or clicking games) are video games whose gameplay consists of the player performing simple actions such as clicking on the screen repeatedly ("grinding") to earn some in-game currency. In some games, even the clicking becomes unnecessary after a time, as the game plays itself, including in the player's absence, hence the moniker "idle game".

The news follows MTG announcing earlier this year that Kongregate is planning to launch a new game based on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles later this year. Kongregate's new TMNT game will be Cross-platform strategy game from Synapse Games, the developers of Animation Throwdown, which combines the worlds of Fox's Futurama, Family Guy, American Dad, Bob's Burgers and King of the Hill, and will boast 3D Lair Best-in-class graphics, as well as unique heroes and strong monetization.

SpongeBob SquarePants, which was recently greenlit for a 13th season, has reigned as the number-one kids’ animated series on TV for the last 17 years, while generating a universe of beloved characters, pop culture catchphrases and memes, theatrical releases, consumer products, a Tony award-winning Broadway musical which is now touring North America and a global fan base. SpongeBob SquarePants is seen in more than 208 countries and territories, translated in 55+ languages, and averages more than 100 million total viewers every quarter. SpongeBob SquarePants is created by Stephen Hillenburg and produced by Nickelodeon in Burbank, Calif.

Nickelodeon's is currently in the midst of the network's "Best Year Ever", a year-long global celebration of one of the most iconic TV series and characters ever created. The “Best Year Ever” launched with the premiere of “SpongeBob’s Big Birthday Blowout,” an original mixed live-action and animated special earlier this summer, and leads up to the Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies theatrical, The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run, coming August 2020.

A CG-animated prequel series, Kamp Koral: SpongeBob’s Under Years is also set to premiere this summer.

THQ Nordic and Nickelodeon are slated to release SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom - Rehydrated, a remake of the much-loved video game, on June 23.

Kongregate is a leading US-based developer and publisher of browser, mobile, PC and console games in multiple genres, including strategy, action, adventure (RPG) and sports. Founded in 2006, Kongregate has published over 100,000 titles on its own web platform and has reached a milestone of 100 million mobile downloads. After successful expansion to Steam and mobile, Kongregate continues the momentum by investing in console game development in the bid to offer multi-platform game experiences.

Kongregate’s free-to-play games have strong Google Play and App Store featuring and include hits like The Trail, Animation Throwdown and BattleHand. In 2017 Kongregate launched its first Xbox One title, GRIDD: Retroenhanced, also available on Steam. The company's most downloaded apps include AdVenture Capitalist, Pocket Politics, and Star Trek Trexels.

Modern Times Group's Viaplay previously partnered with Nickelodeon in October 2014, which gave Viaplay the exclusive stand-alone video on demand (VOD) rights to a raft of Nickelodeon programming in the Nordic region until 2020.

More Nick: Nickelodeon Announces Voice Cast for 'Kamp Koral: SpongeBob’s Under Years', First-Ever 'SpongeBob SquarePants' Spinoff!

Originally published: Wednesday, April 29, 2020 at 21:04 BST.
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