Sackboy: A Big Adventure will not support online co-op play at launch. The upcoming PS5 title sees the return of Sackboy, the iconic mascot of the LittleBigPlanet franchise, in a 3D platformer similar to Super Mario 3D World. It's set to release as a launch title for the PlayStation 5 on November 12th.
While Sackboy is likely not at the very top of anyone's next-gen list, it's still a perfectly exciting title in its own right. Recent trailers have shown off an amazing level of graphical detail, letting players see individual frayed threads on Sackboy's cloth body and hair and fur on other creatures that looks wonderfully soft. It almost makes Sackboy: A Big Adventure look like the world's most ambitious FMV game, which is especially impressive considering the game's fantastical and whimsical subject matter.
As exciting as the graphics look, it's not all good news for Sackboy: A Big Adventure. A recent post on the PlayStation Blog has announced that online co-op will not be available on launch day. According to Sumo Digital design director Ned Waterhouse, the team is still working to perfect and refine the multiplayer experience, and "we just need a little more time to get it right so you can enjoy it to the fullest with your friends and family." The missing online functionality will be introduced in a patch by the end of this year. This patch will include not only the ability to play online, but cross-generation functionality with the version of the game that will also be launching for PS4. Waterhouse assures fans that local co-op will be fully available for the entire game at launch on the 12th.
This online delay is certain to be a disappointment. With COVID-19 keeping people socially distant, online multiplayer is a hotter commodity than ever, as evidenced by the overwhelming success of games like Among Us and Phasmophobia, the latter of which was so successful it surprised even the developer. People crave ways to connect and spend time with each other, and since meeting in-person is no longer an option, many have turned to video games. The colorful, bouncy world of Sackboy: A Big Adventure would have been an excellent escape as well, and hopefully still will be eventually.
Sackboy: A Big Adventure looks like a perfectly charming game. Sackboy is a perennially cute protagonist, and the special edition even lets players dress him up in fun costumes based on other Sony titles. One can only hope that the single player and local co-op modes will be enough to sustain players until the online co-op arrives. Hopefully at that point, Sackboy: A Big Adventure will be a game worth playing with anyone.
Source: PlayStation Blog