Update: Backers of Wonderful 101: Remastered on Switch have now been sent a link to a specific help page created by The Yetee, the company PlatinumGames has partnered with to manage reward fulfilment. If you're still missing your code for the Switch version of the game, you're advised to head to that page.
If you're wondering how the game stacks up on Switch, you can read our review (spoilers: we enjoyed it).
Original Story (Sun 10th May, 2020 12:30 BST): A few days ago, PlatinumGames began sending out Switch codes for The Wonderful 101: Remastered. While most Kickstarter backers were able to redeem and play the game, a number of people reported receiving blank codes, and others received ones that wouldn't allow them to play the game immediately.
Below is an example of a blank code. As you can see, PlatinumGames acknowledged this slight mishap - explaining it had "identified the cause of the error situation" and got the "codes out properly" right away:
A week before this, Platinum announced the retail release of the game had been pushed back to 30th June in America and 3rd July in Europe due to the coronavirus outbreak. Physical backers may also not receive their copy of the game until after the retail release. The developer estimates it will start shipping backer versions in "late" June.
Did you have any problems redeeming your code? Did you back a physical copy of the game? Tell us below.
[source twitter.com, via videogameschronicle.com]
Comments 97
This has got to be one of the most convoluted/embarrassing/upsetting Kickstarters in recent history.
At this point I don't know if I should find it funny or plain annoying.
@RazumikhinPG I think there has been far worse to be honest.
I still have the Wii u version of this to play in my backlog. I got it free from Nintendo as a digital code in some sort of promotion they ran a few years back, I think it was a choice of games to pick from but I already owned the others!
I am a huge fanboy of Bayonetta and Platinum in general, but what they do recently really grinds my gears...
So, after the Blank codes went out, they issued the regular codes within an hour or so. This really is a non-story because they fixed it nearly immediately. As for the physical release getting pushed back, that's really unsurprising due to COVID.
@SergeEXE what is surprising is that stores will get the physical copies before the backers 🤦♂️
@Valkian24 ok, let's just say this one is pretty bad.
@RazumikhinPG Well, it's a matter of needing to fulfill a contract with retailers by a specific date. It genuinely sucks that it has to be the case, but I know that if you backed for a Physical copy that they're giving you a Steam code because of the delay
@SergeEXE and why would I want a Steam code if I don't have a gaming PC?
They have contracts to fulfill with retailers, but what about people that funded the project? Why are those contracts less important?
I got my Steam code a few days ago, put it on eBay immediately, and sold it within an hour for $30.
Thanks Platinum!
@KillerBOB I gave mine to my brother so he could play the game, while I can't.
Thanks Platinum!
@KillerBOB I just gave mine to my brother as an early birthday gift
@RazumikhinPG Dude that happens with every kickstarter game I have backed. Bloodstained was a far worse in terms of kickstarter organization then W101.
@SilentHunter382 let's not forget Bloodstained was developed through the Kickstarter whereas TW101 was a completed game that only needed to be ported. Should have been quite straightforward, alas hasn't.
@RazumikhinPG Porting a game isn't as easy as "Straightforward". Still I understand where you are coming from.
This is one of the reason I didn't back them on Kickstarter cause by doing so they'll use that practice in the future for releasing other games which I don't want to see them doing.
@RazumikhinPG what was so bad and this Kickstarter? I got one of these blank codes... And within an hour I had a new email with a legit code.
@SilentHunter382 Platinum also said they were going ahead with the ports, they didn't really need the backers. They weren't necessarily dependent on the kickstarter's success to start developing the ports and cover manufacturing costs. The Kickstarter page was nothing more than a glorified online shop for people to pre-order the game, however they are now getting it after the general retail release.
It's messy and downright shady.
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2020-03-02-platinum-games-the-wonderful-101-kickstarter-wasnt-about-the-money
"PlatinumGames: The Wonderful 101 Kickstarter wasn't about the money
"We thought it would be a good opportunity to bring the fans together — to unite them — and gauge interest," says executive director Atsushi Inaba"
2 days in, I'm REALLY HAPPY with the game and my choice to kickstart it
@leo13 they don't really have a legitimate excuse to mess up the eshop codes, not to mention they should have put extra care towards pleasing fans considering the whole fiasco with physical copies.
They even messed up the backer questionnaire before the pandemic took over the world, and backers couldn't choose which platform they wanted. When you make so many mistakes, you either improve your service and stop doing mistakes, or you're going to upset some people (besides seeming really messy and disorganized).
@RazumikhinPG Who cares? I never played Wonderful 101 so when I backed the Kickstarter I just accepted that I was buying a port.
They fixed the blank codes pretty quickly. Did Platinum Games step on your hamster or something? You sure are salty. Your brother got the game for free essentially.
@Alaninho I'm not complaining about the game being a port. I'm saying it's easier to port than to develop a whole game from scratch.
I've seen indie companies deliver better/flawless service than Platinum with this messy Kickstarter. They need to be called out, and as a backer I have every right to complain about it lol. You're too lenient, dude.
@RazumikhinPG I know it's sucks, I also backed the physical version, therefore we are in the same boat.
Taking the current Situation into consideration, ai didn't develope such a hatred and grief towards Platinum like you did.
Here are my thoughts:
With the physical backer Editions, they kind of want to give people a limited edition. Therefore they will be packed and distributed through a different channel. Also, during the Kickstarter they added lots of stuff because the fans were reaching targets. Maybe the production of these extras is also delayed due to Corona, we don't know but it's likely. I don't think anyone at Platinum is happy about the current situation. The whole Kickstarter was some kind of service to the fans and it went great until the outbreak. The people were paying attention and keep fulfilling the tasks from Platinum. Without this situation, it probably would be a bright and shining example how to run a Kickstarter fulfilling fans requests and adding more and more content (also physical content).
Long story short: it's sucks, but that's life. We can cry or make the best out of it. I personally working on my backlog Don't let this f***ing Virus ruin your mood!
@mazzel we don't know for sure the extra content was only added because the targets were reached.
Also please don't confuse being rigorous/critical with having hatred.
@RazumikhinPG I can cut platinum games some slack on somethings as I don't think they expected the campaign too go as big as it did.
The backers code is something that is a very important question that they did mess up on. The blank codes was an error but since it was fixed so easily I can cancel out the mess up there on their part (still shouldn't have happened in the first place which is why I am not praising them for it).
Regarding the games being shipped out. I agree that games should be in backers hands before release and when they can't make alternatives. Like what they did by giving a Steam key by default or get it on a consoles instead by paying extra (it is much more of a hassle to generate keys for consoles then it is for Steam). But what is happening regarding the virus I understand the delay on the physical edition.
Was giddy when I saw the email coming in and then was very confused as I saw a "Z" on the key code...
... it was for STEAM and not for Switch. We are living in very confusing days indeed.
@RazumikhinPG I thought they pushed back the release date for the the physical copies along with the backer's copies. I'm pretty sure one update confirmed it as such.
April Fools! ... oh wait, that was something different.
@Valkian24
Should have sold it to him for at least $10, you missed an opportunity! 😏
But still I didn't back it and if I did would have gotten the switch version and getting the Steam version also would have been a massive plus for me.
@KillerBOB Not gonna charge my brother for his 30th B-day, that'll make me look bad xD
@Samuel-Flutter nah, that's incorrect.
@RazumikhinPG According to Project Update #30, they said, "Our current estimate for the start of shipping rewards is late June," followed by, "Due to the effects of COVID-19 on production on distribution, the retail release date of The Wonderful 101: Remastered has been pushed back, to June 30th for the US version package release, and July 3rd for the EU version package release." They did say that they "may receive it after" beforehand, but I suppose that depends on the post.
@RazumikhinPG Mighty No. 9 says hi.
Edit: just realized you said "recent history," but W101R is still a solid KS campaign by comparison.
@KayFiOS yes, many Kickstarter projects messed up.
Is a blank code really that much worse than a code for The Wonderful 101 anyway?
@BenAV Ouch!!
I was waiting for the reviews so I could place my order for a physical 22nd May delivery. Assuming the review was favourable, and because there is little in the way of physical releases now.
So the code is not an issue for me but the push back until July is.
101 is off my list now, to be replaced with Xenoblade, maybe. But I'm not sure.
Edit,: is it just the downloads that have been pushed back, is the 22nd still on for the physical release? That's 12 days, so a review should be imminent???? 🙃
They got it all fixed in literally 30 minutes.
But of course you guys won’t mention that in the article since clicks are needed.
Disgusting “journalism”.
Looks like the situation was rectified pretty quickly. It might be a good idea to acknowledge that in the article.
I backed a physical Switch copy. I'm a bit bummed by the delay, but I also find it understandable and don't really mind waiting.
@RazumikhinPG Sure thing, but we also don't know the opposite. Needing critical is fine and right, but don't forget to be fair! Also try to take the position of the person/faction on the other side of the table and try to understand their actions. Sometimes a little less "I, me and myself" and a little more "we, us and ourself". It's not like because they missed a deadline (which was always mentioned as "estimated") the world will end or you have a real monetary loss or something. You agreed to their terms and conditions when you backed the Kickstarter. It probably mentions that Platinum has the right to change the delivery date if needed. If you don't like these terms, don't back.
That is a 'major-mal-misorganisational problem'
@mazzel I'm a bit of a "I, me and myself" person when I buy things for myself, as are most people. The world doesn't buy from Amazon because they're thinking of benefiting the company, but because we want the products for ourselves.
As for giving donations to people who ask for donations, I do it thinking about "we, us and ourself". I don't think Platinum asked for donations tho.
The current pandemic has affected everything and everyone, no one is discussing that. But when you keep making mistakes, don't be surprised to be called out for it.
I haven't sued Platinum, I didn't ask for a refund, I didn't pester them with e-mails. But I'm able to observe the mess they did and comment on it.
Man you are too damn lenient.
@retro_player_77 I’ll never understand comments like yours. They hit 2 million on Kickstarter, whether or not you decided to pledge is completely negligible in this situation.
The article is missing some details I feel are essential:
@RazumikhinPG And man you are too damn butthurt. You seem to think you're some beacon of truth calling out the evil company mistreating honest consumers, and you're just not. You're just some dude having the online equivalent of a temper tantrum. You're too worked up about this, for god only knows why, so put your phone down, go outside for half an hour, and then come back, making sure to stay away from this topic, because it clearly is having an irrational and oversized effect on you.
@JimmySpades first of all, I'm on my laptop lol
Replying to comments is your idea of a temper tantrum. Please leave the comment section alone if you don't understand dialogue.
Got a physical version of the game backed, sucks that it's gonna be delayed but it is what it is, Coronavirus can't be helped. Just glad I'm still getting it, unlike Playtonic who completely pulled the rug out from under my with my Wii U physical copy of Yoola Laylee.
@RazumikhinPG yes, depending on the situation, I am! Not only because I'm a very fair person and also like to think about others, but also because it's better for my mood and my heart. Look at your posts, you spend half the day complaining and complaining. What's the outcome? Nothing! You said your poem in an anonymous forum, which basically has zero impact. If it makes you feel better, go ahead, but nothing will change. Instead of complaining, people should try to start healthy discussions. You would be surprised to hear the story the other side has to tell. On top of that, if you ever find yourself in this situation, you also would like people to keep kicking your balls for something, you basically have zero controll over? Beside the shipping issue, all mistakes that happen are just human. Sure, it does not make them look very professional, but in the end, it all were small mistakes and very very human ones, too!
Mistake or missing in a questionnaire? No big deal, it just got big because it's the most important question. Missing keys in an automated email? Probably an error in the software, which for sure is not made by Platinum. If needing unrelenting makes you sleep better at night, it's fine! Not trying to change you here, just hoping that this crisis can make people think a little more about others, as I personally think, that selfishness is one reason, this virus could spread to fast.
You know there are A LOT of other games to talk about, this place only seems to care about every little small detail about this game, I would say I'd come back in 8 months from now, when they have a section on the top of the website telling us how great the game is with every little nook and cranny about it.
@mazzel One mistake is fine. A lot of mistakes is questionable.
@RazumikhinPG COVID made for bad timing
I ordered a physical backers copy. There's lots of stuff going on in the world that's a shed-load more important than receiving a video game late. I'm looking forward to playing this game on my Switch whenever it arrives.
@RazumikhinPG Name those “a lot of mistakes”. I’ll wait.
@KillerBOB how did you get it?
I only saw that they were going to give us codes. But i got none in my inbox.
@RazumikhinPG you are very rude and vindictive it would seem. Hard to take your comments seriously with you attacking anyone who asks you legitimate questions in here...
Being totally honest and as aphysical backer, the delays have just reduced my interest in the game and I may end just selling it. The digital steam code will be given away and was of little use to myself. Oh well there are more important things to focus on.
@rushiosan I already did, scroll up, do some research yourself.
@NoNoseNosferatu what questions are you talking about?
@RazumikhinPG the thing is that you need something to b*tch about right? I guess you’re having a bad day. Cheer up
Great, news like these only fuel the fire in people trying to hate something.
The code issue was fixed almost immediately.
People who are getting steam codes are the ones who ordered a physical version, and if you can't realize why it is hard to ship them in the current world situation you have bigger problems than your game not arriving. You are getting the game twice, get over yourselves.
@JamesJose7 exactly. But everyone seems to want something to get upset at with Platinum Games.
It seems the IGN community indeed flocked here to NL.
@fafonio now when they will try convincing someone to hate on Platinum for whatever pointless reason they'll say: "but they sent blank codes to backers on a kickstarter!"
@RazumikhinPG As far as I can count they made one mistake which were in their hands and that's the questionnaire. The codes were send out by a third party as someone mentioned here and Platinum probably just have out platform plu email addresses. And you really want to put anything related with Corona on Platinums account?
Like someone said, cheer up!
@BenAV You win the internet today! That was savage!
@Nintendoforlife I’ll never understand comments like yours. They hit 2 million on Kickstarter, whether or not you decided to pledge is completely negligible in this situation.
They could had hit 2 million or 2 billion and I wouldn't care, the fact of the matter is they are e-begging people online for a port, something they could had easily done without the funding. What I'm trying to say is this is the first time they did this which I agree they may get a pass for now but the first time may eventually lead to a second then a third time and it'll keep on going and going until someone call them on their bs. Kickstarter is for small developer to help them get on their feet and into the gaming development sector, it's not a platform for big dev like Platinum Games and Atari to keep falling back on to swindle people of their money.
@RazumikhinPG to each his own, but I'm also a backer and I think you're being kind of harsh on all accounts except 1 (I do think they should have found a way to get physical copies to their backers at least by release date) boy am I glad I prefer digital so I've had my copy for a few days now
Honestly, just a "None" in place of your Switch code is the most amusingly Kamiya thing that could happen. He'd probably block you for complaining to him about it on Twitter, too.
@RazumikhinPG That you honestly believe you're engaging in dialogue (and being in any wise reasonable) is a far more potent source of lols than me misidentifying your input device.
@RazumikhinPG Because one results in a few grumpy tweets. The other results in severe financial penalities and people losing their jobs
classic oopsie, glad it's resolved!
I took a gamble on kickstarting the wonderful 101 thing
As I basically went in blind. I had a wii u back in the days. The wonderfull 101 trailer never impressed me enough to consider buying it, the remaster trailer tho had me intrigued, I held off for a good while before kickstarting. It has past 1 and a half million £'s before I decided I wanted a switch just to see what all the fuss was about. I was kinda annoyed when I finnally got my code as it it was originally supposed to around in the month of may and when it did arrive it was 30 minute past 12 in the morning for me here in the uk and the code was blank. I couldn't stay up and wait for it as my eyes were feeling heavy and would normally have been asleep by midnight. So I woke up the next morning. Had the switch code at last. Registered it. God 200 gold on e-shop, that was night and played. That song they played in the tutorial. Amazing, the actual game if wasn't terrible but I half wat through mission 001 and way I was just kinda board by that point. I closed the software and havn't went back to play my switch since
@RazumikhinPG maybe we are? Would you listen, then?
@BrintaPap
It was in an email, but it wasn't sent from Platinum it Kickstarter, some other company sent it to me.
Check your junk folder, or maybe it will be sent to you in a couple days.
@Knux900 ...
...
...
...
...
what?
@RazumikhinPG Mighty No. 9
Not gonna lie, this made me laugh and seeing people whining about it is making me laugh even harder.
@Knux900 what the heck are you saying? It’s like one of those speech to text programs but the samples speech was a prerecorded soundbite from the Nixon era and had an algorithm of trump’s twitter feed added in.
In layman’s terms- complete and utter nonsense.
@RazumikhinPG He’s mad bros. We did it.
At this point in time my only question is: why am I being bullied in a comment section for talking about the article? Lol
All I got (as a physical backer) is a steam code, I dont even own a PC, that's why I backed the switch version! So it's completely useless to me
@RazumikhinPG It's really not that bad at all. I've backed many games, video and board, on kickstarter and this has been one of the smoothest ones. Especially given the current global situation.
Others have mentioned the Bloodstained kickstarter. But Chicken Wiggle Workshop (or whatever it's called now) is still getting delayed further and further. I also backed Formula Fusion a couple years ago, a game by a bunch of the Wip3out team, that's now got a different name, different team and is looking like it might end up on a different console generation too.
what a rubbish game developer, took my money as an early kickstarter, game is out now and still no code and ignored. it's no wonder they failed on the WiiU. they would've failed on any platform with this kind of rubbish attitude.
@hendrawardi Nintendo was the publisher on the Wii U and Platinum have outsourced the rewards part to another company who made the errors.
@hendrawardi One word for you and it ends in virus.
The codes were sent MINUTES after the error happened. What the hell, Nintendolife. Get your journalism together and report the correct facts for once.
First it's Mighty No. 9, then Yooka-Laylee, then Project CARS, then Bloodstained, then Shenmue 3, and now The Wonderful 101. Why is it so hard for these guys to just deliver when Shovel Knight and Shantae are doing it just fine?
Still no confirmation for when us physical backers are going to get the game. This kickstarter launched well into the Covid issue, so I'm only cutting them so much slack as far as all this is being handled from a communications perspective.
@Bunkerneath sell it
@SergeEXE you're making sense on the internet. There must be something wrong with you.
@fafonio I didn’t ask for it so I’ll just give it to a friend. Financial gain should have nothing to do with gaming. I collect for me not for selling
the main problem for me is the game
why not remaster Vanquish or Nier automata for switch
why this weird game
God I hate Platinum. They’re so talented but the management at this studio is so poorly done
@themosteve because Nier is Square’s IP and Vanquish is Sega’s ..... Wonderful 101 is their own baby (even though it belonged to Nintendo but they let them recover it)
There’s a reason for everything. People forget that Platinum is, front and foremost, still an indie studio. W101 is their first game released without a publisher, hence the Kickstarter.
It seems not many people are very informed about Platinum and just b*tch for the sake of it.
Also, W101 is amazing.
game is out and have not received any code. what a con job developer
@RazumikhinPG You arent being "bullied" you're being corrected. Stop being such a victim. As for why, its because youre talking out of your ass on a subject you seemingly know nothing about and blaming people who are, for the most part, completely not at fault.
@Trippersigs22 I honestly could say the same about you but I can't see your ass from here.
Lol, what a mess. Earlier they said on this site that the performance of the Switch version wasn't that great either. Thank goodness I have the original Wii u version.
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