Update (Tue 28th Jul, 2020 16:00 BST): Sorry folks, while Geoff did indeed talk about Cuphead and announce the game for the PS4 during his latest Summer Game Fest broadcast, unfortunately - we're going to have to "wait a little bit longer" for the DLC.
StudioMDHR's Maja Moldenhauer said 'The Delicious Last Course' will arrive "when it's ready":
"We're still working hard on it. In true Cuphead fashion, it's taking us a little longer than we thought, but we want to make it a memorable experience. And to be honest, and I think that we ultimately probably announced it a little bit too early based on when we actually put pencil to paper - but at the end of the day, we want it to be a fulfilling experience and live upto Cuphead and it will come out when it's ready."
When the DLC does launch - it'll be released across all platforms on the same day.
Original article (Tue 28th Jul, 2020 04:45 BST): Last July, StudioMDHR revealed it would be delaying its Cuphead DLC - 'The Delicious Last Course' until 2020. Since then, there have been no updates. Now, though, we've got quite a few developments.
A listing for Cuphead has been discovered on the PlayStation Store and the Xbox website says the DLC for the game is "available now" - so this extra content could be arriving later today on this platform. Keep in mind, there's no guarantee. If it does, with any luck the Switch also gets it. We checked the eShop and there's no sign of the DLC at the time of writing.
Game Awards creator and host, Geoff Keighley, is also teasing a "special update" for "one of our favorite indie game studios" as part of a Summer Game Fest announcement. Could it be for Cuphead?
We'll be sure to let you know if we hear anything. Are you looking forward to the return of Cuphead? Tell us down below.
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[source windowscentral.com]
Comments 51
The Xbox page has said "available now" for quite some time, which is likely referring to Cuphead, not the DLC.
I wish they would add in an extremely easy difficulty setting so that I could buy this game for my big bro. He absolutely loves the art style but he’s disabled and can’t at all handle the absurd level of difficulty this monster throws at you. But obviously this is just pointless wishful thinking.
I can tell how successful the developers were at what they were going for by how much I loathe the idea of playing their game. I hate the cartoon style of the period and despise the musical style, and the fact that that carries over to Cuphead means that they absolutely nailed it. Well done, Cuphead developers. Well done.
@BAN Unfortunately there’s a certain subsection of gamers who seem to have a thing about difficulty settings. If they added an easy mode to games like this and Dark Souls, they would instantly be more accessible which is absolutely no bad thing. And this is coming from somebody who’s beaten Cuphead and the Souls games multiple times.
They do have an Easy setting, but it can still be challenging. I love Cuphead (it's probably my favorite indie game) but I do have to be in a specific mood to play it--the kind of mood where I don't mind redoing a boss over and over again to perfect it. Looking forward to the DLC!
@TriforceBun It locks out the end of the game. You literally can’t finish the game playing on simple.
This will be a good day for a swell bout.
It actually appeared on the PS4 Store, so I think an announcement for the DLC and a PS4 release is really close.
Edit: oh, they said it in the article.
More important when is the physical coming out
I’m still waiting on that physical copy of the game
@nessisonett Sure it makes it more accessible, but it also gives up a huge part of what makes the game fun. There are plenty of other easier games out there that are more accessible. Not every game can be enjoyed by everybody.
@HammerKirby you're arguing exactly the point of the people nessisonett was referring to.
There is absolutely no reason not to make a game as accessible as possible unless you're hell-bent on alienating specific markets. Even if it just added more health, optional instant respawns or weaker enemies it would go a long way towards helping broaden the appeal.
EDIT: for clarity this would not REPLACE the existing difficulty mode. But would be an addition. If you truly think extra options diminishes the fun of a hard game, you should probably reassess your expectations.
@HammerKirby That’s why it’s an option.
@HammerKirby Difficulty options are there for a reason. To add options.
Does that mean the physical edition of this game is releasing soon as well?
@BAN I wholeheartedly agree, and thank you for providing such an excellent example of why basic customization options (like difficulty) are always a good thing.
Sadly, some people lack the imagination to think of people like your brother whom would benefit from these features! Hopefully that changes!
lets gooooooooooo
I AM MOST DEFINITELY HYPED! 🚂
I’m buying an Xbox I can’t wait for rare replay on switch or pc any longer! It’s disgraceful what happened with those games.
If it is the DLC announcement expect a release date for the physical edition. The devs said when the DLC is done they'll bundle it all together 😊 I'm excited for this!
@tofarawaytimes Thank you for bring up Celeste, I think they did it perfectly. They encourage the player to play the game on "normal" level, but also provide power up options.
I jumped on this thread to say what has already been said. I wanted to purchase Cuphead, but the difficulty stopped me. I did finish Celeste with out help, and I am so glad that I overcame the difficulty. But I wasn't about to do that again with Cuphead.
@HammerKirby As many have already said, this would be an option. The base game can remain exactly as it is, people who want the challenge can still relish it. It takes literally nothing away and adds a ton.
Celeste is a prime example. Everyone knows of it as a tough game to beat and yet it has a plethora of accessibility options to allow all levels of players to enjoy it. When that exists with that reputation and prestige there really is no excuse for Cuphead, as much as I love it, to be so accessibility adverse. To the point where you are actively punished for opting into the easier option by not allowing you to complete the game if you do! For what reason?
Allow fall damage to be toggled off, allow for hearts to be refilled, allow halving enemy health, heck even allow a mode where players are 100% invincible if that's how they want to play it. These would all be relatively easy things to patch in as well. It's not the default, it's all options for those who need it that can be ignored by those who don't.
@BAN If your brother wants to see the game, but can not play it, have you tried watching walkthrough videos on youtube?
@HammerKirby why gate keep someone else’s enjoyment of something? If it can still be as hard as you want it to be, what does it matter? Are you keeping some kind of global ranking or something?
@HammerKirby I'm mixed on this because I feel difficulty is sometimes tied with an "artistic" and design choice that is very on purpose. It's obvious that Miyazaki made a very deliberate choice to make Souls games hard because he was influenced by both older games and they really fit the intense vibe of his games. At the same time I would not give two ***** about someone playing the game on super easy mode If they put that option in. It would not effect me at all as someone choosing to play it on a harder mode. My experience and preferences are my own and someone else loving it on cake-walk mode is having their own version of a good time.
At the end of the day though, if it's tied to a purposeful creative and artistic decision, than it is up to the developers. I believe Miyazaki was asked about options already and rejected the idea. I respect his own decision as well but I think if it's not an end to a developer's vision and it's no problem to add than no reason it should be a problem to have super easy mode. I'd be down with as many people as possible enjoying themselves and think that would be cool.
Well, thanks for getting my hopes up through a long system update, but I don’t see any sign of the DLC being available for the Xbox version. Sure, there’s a pulsing “click here” announcement if you go to the game’s page, and if you click on it, you get the same trailer we had last year.
So what’s changed to make someone think anything new has happened? I even had a 30 mb “update” that supposedly applied itself when I tried to launch the game, then up comes the same game I’ve had since the Mugman update.
Please update this article to prevent others from thinking the DLC went live only to find the only game to play is still the waiting game. I appreciate the work they put in to make this game as good as it is, but after it took them 3 years longer than expected to make it, why would we expect the extra material to not go through the same excruciatingly slow development?
Perfect timing for me, as I reached the ending last night.
As for the argument on difficulty options, I'm usually in favour of them. But for games that are designed to be super tough such as this one, I think that giving an easy way out would detract from the overall experience.
Still waiting on the physical version with the DLC included. The art is too good to pass on having the case on my shelf.
....lol, nope...PS4 release.
Ok, now we have the official word. And it’s maybe the least exciting item on the list, except for people who only have PS4. And the Netflix show looks a bit better than I was expecting, but I knew they wouldn’t be able to control themselves and make a show that continued to look as authentically 1930s as the game does. They just can’t resist more modern pacing and framing. It’s good that it won’t look just like a Flash cartoon, but it still looks more 2020 than 1930.
No mention of why the official site is saying “available now” about something they still can’t even commit to a release date on. At least we got to try a brief moment to see what it might feel like to find out the DLC is live, but it’s not as much fun when it’s quickly followed by the disappointment of a big ol’ shrug for when to really expect it.
So now the question is - delayed until 2021, or 2022?
I don't want to insert myself into the debate so not responding to anyone in particular - but I can definitely see arguments for games like this not implementing accessibility.
I am not the best gamer in the world but somehow I managed to beat Cuphead last year. It was very tough and I had to persevere through so many failures (always being able to see what I would need to do to win - just a matter of execution) so when I finally beat the final boss it is probably the most satisfying feeling I have ever gotten from gaming (mostly pride but a little bit of thankfulness that it was over!).
There is no way in hell that I would have persevered and gotten that immense satisfaction if there was a way of dialing down the difficulty - I would have caved into the frustration and seen it through to the end on an easier setting.
So the argument that including easier settings in games doesn't take anything away from people doesn't actually hold much water for me. Celeste for example I enjoyed but I did not complete any of the harder settings because I didn't have to. While that means more people can play it - it means you also miss out on something else.
Ultimately I think developers have to right to choose what they implement in their games without demands from an audience they might not even be targeting. The Celeste developers probably made the right decision for their game because it got a huge audience, but the Cuphead developers also made the right decision from their perspective as they allowed people like me to have one of their best ever experiences from video games.
I think they had regular delays, the Netflix deal happened, and they'll now launch at or near the show's release. I also expect (despite their "hard game" ethos) the DLC will include an easy mode option for the full game as they will want the property to be as accessible as possible for a large audience.
I really believe they are transitioning from being an innovative indie game company to one that has a character they want to see join Sonic, Mega Man, Mario, etc. as a cultural placement. And the DLC release will now be a part of that.
Everyone should be able to play at a difficulty level they enjoy. Some of you enjoy super hard, great, good for you. I think if you can complete a game on the super hard level you should get a bonus cut scene, bonus levels, or whatever, fair play to you.
Not everyone can play to that level. And it ain't just about getting good. I'd love to, but I really can't. I have horrendous arthritis in my hands, I can't play anything rigorous like cuphead for more than one hour. I bought cuphead, and I love it, but usually I can only complete a couple of levels max (and die a whole bunch of times, of course), before I have to give it a rest. The sides of my hands go numb and I have to cool off for at least 30 minutes. Most people are better at games than me, and I'm totally cool with that. But I pay my hard earned money fair and square same as anyone, why should I be limited to a few gentle games? I want the same mad game experiences as other people. I don't understand the thinking of this is how I enjoy this, so this is how it should be, I don't care who is excluded. How selfish is that?
@geni53yr7 they hand draw and hand paint this stuff, of all the crappy devs out there, give these devs a break
@nessisonett I know. I don't understand it at all. I've beaten Cuphead but it was such a stressful time that it gives me legit anxiety to think about going through it again, and I think that's sad because it's one of the most beautifully creative games I've ever seen but the gate is kept shut super tight for most people, and the developers seem to get a kick out of the snobbishness of it. I don't understand devs who take the hard line like that. It would be like if da Vainci made the most beautiful painting ever and then mounted it on top of the Alps or something so that very few people actually get to see it.
@BongoBongo This is just hardcore gate-keeping and it makes no sense. This argument would only be true if "sense of accomplishment from overcoming intense difficulty" were the only reason people play this or any other video game. People play games for a wide range of reasons, not just because they want to experience a challenge. If that weren't true, then art direction and music and story would literally not exist because all you actually need to experience "difficult" is a ball, some obstacles, and some hazards done up in black and white with no sound.
People play games because of the way a game looks and sounds and for the atmosphere and for the clever surprises they might offer and on and on. The guys that made Cuphead might honestly believe/say that the whole point of Cuphead is to be difficult but they fail to recognize that their aesthetic choices for the game completely undermine that as the soul purpose of the game. People aren't drawn to this game because they heard it's hard. They're initially drawn to it because it looks the way it does and they want to experience that world and the feelings it evokes for a while. And I'd argue that the same is actually true of every game. Hence, video game trailers show how a game looks. They include music from the game and give you a taste of the story and draw your attention to the art direction. Very seldom do they have a narrator screaming in your face about how difficult the game is and show the main character dying OVER AND OVER AND OVER.
Your argument would also only be true if difficulty all around were being reduced by default. What people are saying isn't that they want the game to be made easy, full stop. We're saying that we want a difficulty setting that you can choose or not choose. You wouldn't HAVE to play it on easy. You could still choose to play it on hard. Hell, they could make fun of you for playing it on easy and tell you that REAL men only play it on hard like Wolfenstein does, for all I care. Like seriously, how is that a problem for people? Would it really diminish your sense of accomplishment from beating it on hard to know that you COULD have been playing it on easy? Would it make you feel like you got ripped off to know that some people are feeling accomplished without having experienced the same level of adversity as you? It's very difficult for me to believe that anyone could actually feel that way. If anything it should make you feel MORE accomplished because it would mean that you're in an elite group that was able to do something that other people weren't able to do and had to bow out of.
@nessisonett So true. I don't at all understand it.
@riggah Yeah I'm sure he's watched videos of it. It's just not the same, though.
@tofarawaytimes I haven't played Celeste yet. How does that game handle it?
@BAN Are you saying that I am “gate-keeping” here? If so then that makes no sense (I’m not controlling anyone’s access to things - I don’t have that power) so you should really learn what Internet cliches mean before you use them.
If instead you mean the developers are gate keeping, then isn’t that their prerogative? Not that I believe they are but it depends on your definition. They have created something and can define the parameters of accessibility if they want. What right does the audience have to demand what is included? If I write a book and decide to write it in say Old English and then someone comes along and says the plot sounds really intriguing to them so I should publish it in modern language too then do I have to?
On your final point - my post above explains that my argument isn’t about diminishing my accomplishment of completing a harder game, it’s that I wouldn’t have the accomplishment of completing a harder game at all as I wouldn’t have had the motivation.
I really don’t feel that strongly either way - as I say I think it should be up to the developers. I merely wanted to make the argument against people saying that implementing easy mode in all games takes nothing away from gamers who like a challenge. Purely anecdotal and small sample, but it would have taken something away from me in respect of Cuphead.
@BongoBongo Yes, that is what I’m saying. I do know what it means. It applies to anyone who uses the arguments you used, including the developers. The developers already do have the prerogative to make their game any way that they want. Most people just happen to think they’re stubborn/stuck up/out of touch/foolish- or some combination of those things- for thinking that hyper-difficult is the best design decision and not including any kind of work around. It’s a point of critique just like any other. They have the right to make their game however they want, and consumers have the right to gripe about it. The world keeps turning.
@BAN I love everything about this game, except for its lack of a more casual difficulty setting. I feel no need for "bragging rights" or frustration, I just want to enjoy the wonderful world and art style. For the masochistic, there's achievements and such, but I really dislike how certain games force hardcore difficulty and are completely inaccessible to people who love games for other reasons, such as stress RELIEF.
A lot of “well the devs have the right to deny people entry to their game” arguments. I think a lot of people are missing the point entirely, it’s not about skill and ability it’s about disability. Some people are disabled in ways that make playing games like this impossible.
It’s like arguing to not put a wheelchair ramp outside an art gallery because the artist on show has the right to make people work to see their art by taking the stairs. Those that are able to manage the large staircase would loose that satisfaction if someone else could just come up a ramp! Those people saying they’re unable should persevere or not come at all, there are other galleries for them.
Does that sound cool? Does it sound like an ok thing to say? I don’t think it does.
@TriforceBun
...Mr. Waluigi Funny Man?
Is that you? Hello
Forget DLC and make a full sequel.
@Shambo Exactly! People act like they'd be personally losing something if they had to actually CHOOSE to play the game on hard mode, as if that very act would somehow cheapen and taint the purity of the game. Like someone coming up and pissing into their fine wine. It's ridiculous, and I don't see the upside for developers who choose to go this route. It costs them dearly in sales. Yeah, Cuphead sold well, but it probably would have sold twice as many copies if people weren't scared off by the difficulty level.
@Ogbert Haha, that's an excellent analogy.
@Benji80 Oh yeah you're so brave for thinking that a game about a Mickey Mouse-type cartoon character with a teacup for a head who's weapon is a finger gun should be super serious lol. Truly, we all applaud you for being so tough. You're like the Edmund Hillary of video games.
But seriously, literally no one is saying to "make the game easy." They're saying to add difficulty levels, something that a great many extremely difficult modern games have, and most of the ones that don't will have other means of managing the difficulty, like useful items that you can buy or craft. It's just hilarious to me that actual adults honestly think they're proving their mettle by grandstanding over the difficulty of a video game, especially one that looks like a Disney cartoon.
@PiggyDan16
That's me! Hello
The thing is, it’s not as hard as it’s reputation. A lot of it requires study and learning patterns. It would be a really short game if it was made any easier. What you’re getting isn’t just a romp to blast through in one sitting. You’re meant to spend a little time with each new boss learning it’s moves, and which weapons to equip. Then go back and try to improve the score. Like games used to be about.
The original Donkey Kong was just 4 single screen challenges to repeat, yet they made a movie about marathon players grinding away at it. Cuphead gets it’s mileage out of giving you a reason to spend plenty of time on challenges you’re meant to do in less than 2 minutes each.
Of course, if you’re trying to get the black & white filter, now we’re talking hard. Doing all the run and gun levels without the gun part gets pretty difficult.
Just finished the original the other day. Part of me can’t wait for this but on the other hand I don’t know if I can face getting my arse handed to me again
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