TOKYO – Independent UK company Tonic Games has released the latest feel-good gaming hit, “Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout”, after Sony Corp offered it to subscribers and by tapping on the power of streamers and social media.
Inspired by classic TV shows such as “Takeshi’s Castle” and “It’s a Knockout”, players navigate clumsy, costumed avatars through a series of mini-games of life or death in what is widely praised as a fresh spin to the saturated battle royal genre.
The title’s popularity comes as consumers flock to gaming after the coronavirus outbreak closed other entertainment options, with the escapist “Animal Crossing: Nintendo Co Ltd” among the breakout hits.
“Fall Guys” is available to PlayStation Plus’ nearly 45 million subscribers until August – a service that is part of Sony CEO Kenichiro Yoshida’s strategy to boost recurring revenue across the group.
The title has become the most downloaded game of the service.
Launching on PlayStation Plus helped each game draw the novice 60s players quickly, said Paul Croft, co-founder of Tonic Games.
“We knew we had to go big at the beginning,” Croft said in an interview.
“Fall Guys” has also been purchased more than 7 million times on Valve’s Steam platform for PC, following the dual-platform launch strategy successfully in 2015 in service of “Rocket League” from developer Psyonix, which was later acquired by Epic Games .
The TV influences and emphasis on fun and humor, with avatars running chaotically through levels and tumbling from platforms, have helped ensure watchability, and have propelled the game above large budget peers in rankings on streaming platforms like Amazon .com Inc’s Twitch.
Buzz around the game is also driven by a clever use of social media to chat with players, retweet fan art and post game updates.
Revenue streams for “Fall Guys” include players buying costumes for avatars, such as dressing up as a pineapple like T. Rex. Costumes are available by playing and winning the game, with updates including new levels, as the developer tries to encourage ongoing involvement with the player.
Tonic Games is currently selling costumes to charity companies, saying on Twitter “the thirst for brands has been unreal” and reflects the commercial interest in hot titles.
The company, which currently has no plans to take on external financing, hopes to bring the game to other platforms, Croft said.
(Report by Sam Nussey; Edited by Christopher Cushing)
