WayForward Announces Shantae 5 As Next Game In The Franchise

WayForward is one company that I’ve grown to admire over the years. The indie development studio always seems to carry a certain level of finesse and polish with each title produced. This was one of the reasons I was excited to see the company take to social media tonight to officially announce its next project, Shantae 5.

Apple Arcade

WayForward has a proven track record of quality within its library of titles. Games like DuckTales Remastered and Shantae: 1/2 Genie Hero showcase the developer’s knack for producing visually impressive, hand-drawn assets. The company will now reach an even wider audience, as Shantae 5 has been confirmed for the new subscription service from Apple, the Apple Arcade.

Today we're thrilled to announce Shantae 5! You're invited to join Shantae in a brand-new adventure later this year on PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC… AND the newly announced Apple Arcade! Stay tuned for more details! Learn more about Apple Arcade at https://t.co/KwXqXtb2ft pic.twitter.com/SFc1iOswHT

— WayForward (@WayForward) March 25, 2019

The platform was only announced today but has already piqued interest from major companies (Sega, Klei Entertainment) also confirming contributions to building out the new platform’s library of titles. The Apple Arcade promises you access online via subscription. Apple also confirmed that you won’t need a persistent internet connection, as you can download titles and play them in an offline mode as well.

Shantae’s Story

The Shantae franchise has been around since June of 2002. The platformer often embraces a light Metroidvania style of gameplay, revisiting its quirky cast of characters. The most recent title, Shantae: 1/2 Geni Hero, released on December 20, 2016. At the time, it found a home on just about every platform available, including the PS Vita and Wii U. The game holds a “Very Positive” review status on its Steam page.

We don’t know much more about Shantae 5 at this time. This was the first time that WayForward indicated that a new mainline Shantae title was even in the works. However, with E3 2019 on the horizon, we will no doubt see more in the coming months. That may also include more from Apple and its new platform, not to mention the recently announced service known as Google Stadia.

What are your thoughts on a new Shantae title? Does anything about the Apple Arcade excite you? Let us know in the comments below!