Ninja Skin DLC + About that Switch version

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Hello everyball!

We have another quick update for you, since today we release a little DLC to the public and also we’d like to have a word about a Switch version.

Ninja Skin DLC released

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The Ninja DLC is now available on Steam! Use it to give Lea a stealthy ninja outfit. You can see it when moving around, during battle, and even in the menu screen!

ninja-run
I mean, she already runs like a ninja, so it was obvious we had to add this skin eventually.

Some background: The Ninja skin was one of the rewards for our Indiegogo backers and has been available for them for a few months already. We decided to release it on Steam a bit later, to keep it exclusive for our backers at least for some time.

About that Switch version

For quite some time now we’ve received a number of requests from people asking us to port CrossCode to one particular platform.

Everyday single day.

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Yes, we heard you. You want to play CrossCode on your Switch.
We get where you’re coming from. Our game has been inspired by so many Nintendo classics, so it would feel right at home on the Switch. And obviously, it would be amazing to play CrossCode on the go.

However, the reality is this: porting CrossCode to Switch is really difficult. As some of you might be aware, CrossCode is written in HTML5 which you cannot run natively on the Switch (just like most consoles). This means a LOT of things have to be reprogrammed/rewritten. And this is especially challenging on the Switch which doesn’t provide the hardware capabilities of other current-gen consoles. That’s why we still can’t make any promise!

Now… We’ve given this answer many, many times. But who knows, maybe it’s too technical and that’s why people just won’t stop asking so we’ll simplify it a bit:

Sorry but CrossCode will be coming to Switch when Hedgehags learn to fly.

Anyway, this is now our answer to all those Switch requests for the time being!
You can keep asking if you want (and you probably will). The answer will be the same.

Anyway, that’s all for now! Until next time!

51 Comments

  • So if the switch version is not coming out soon… Velsabor?

  • Will the Ninja-Skin also come to GOG?

  • Do you think it’s possible to work with Nintendo Switch developers to add native HTML5 support? Perhaps, of successfully contacted, they’ll see it as a way to make more money by allowing support for Crosscode.
    I want to say that you can bundle software to run it within Crosscode, but this is obviously not the case, probably with Switch software permissions.

    I don’t really know about these things, but hopefully my two cents will be worth something.

    • A company won’t make a feature that would take a lot of money to develop if it’s just for one game. You should run a company and learn a few things.

  • I love the Lea illustrations :D

    To be honest, I was pretty surprised when I first noticed the “HTML5” logo on startup. Which took a couple of days of playing actually.

  • nintenchris5963 on December 13, 2018 at 9:47 pm said:

    Will there be a swimsuit/bikini DLC for Summer 2019?

  • Kumbucha Buddy on December 13, 2018 at 11:24 pm said:

    Hi, I bought the game off Discord, is there any way I could get ahold of the DLC?

  • LLOYD: “Come on, give it to me straight. I
    drove along way to see you, the least you can do is level with me. What are the chances of a Switch version?

    MARY: “Not good.”

    LLOYD: “You mean not good, like one out of a hundred?”

    MARY: “I’d say more like one out of a million.”

    LLOYD: “So you’re telling me there’s a chance?”

  • The only question I wonder is… how can you be lvl 60 with 13 seconds played?!

  • Great choice of technology.

  • Can we take this post as confirmation that the Switch version will have flying hedgehag enemies?
    Please add them also to the PC version.

  • So you’re saying we just have to teach hedgehags to fly.

  • I. C. Wiener on December 19, 2018 at 11:01 pm said:

    Are there any plans to release the ninja skin on GoG?
    I feel GoG is always lacking behind in patches and content.

    • Sorry but for now there are no plans to release the skin for GOG. We might get to it eventually, but in the end, setting up things for other stores always takes additional time (especially since the GOG tools are very different from Steam).

      • Hello,

        Is it possible to get some reassurance that the Post Game Episode DLC will eventually arrive on the GOG platform?

        Based on the Ninja skin remark about it not having any release plans for GOG, it is worrying that the potential DLC might not arrive on GOG as well.

        If not then that’s very disappointing but I will just have to spend some more money to get the game on steam even though I currently own the GOG version of the game.

        I’m used to dealing with GOG’s delays about game updates. But I will not stand on potentially missing out essential game content.

        Happy Holidays and thanks for creating such a wonderful game!

      • Gabriel Mate on December 27, 2018 at 3:40 pm said:

        I was quite excited to use the ninja skin, but now I’m bit sad that stuff like this happens a lot when I get the GOG version of a game.

        This “might” means that there’s a chance that you guys might never get around to do it? And that even the post game DLC might even get delayed too?

        I know it’s just a skin, but damn… quite disappointing to see this happening yet again.

  • Just to make it more complicated, the Switch (and the Wii U) uses the Nintendo Web Framework, which has plugins for ImpactJS. Documentation really sucks though, but it is better when looking at Wii U.

  • Have you all looked at doing and/or using something like this for the console ports:
    https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/tools/gui/embedded-browser-55459

    At the very least, it seems that using cefsharp could allow for putting something together in either Unity or Monogame for your console ports. Might still be too heavy for Switch but could be worth a try. I’m interested in this topic as I’m currently toying with building a 2D game using HTML5 and have been thinking about how it might be possible to get things moved over to console if I ever get far enough down the road.

    • We’re actively looking into porting the game and these options have already been considered. It’s not like we’re not trying, it’s just not that easy.

      • What were the problems with embedding a browser into one of the more common frameworks? Not looking to dig at you for your tech choices, just curious since I’m considering the HTML5 path myself. Maybe a short blog series on the technical challenges of porting to consoles? Might get some better feedback from the community that way.

  • If performance is a problem when trying to port to switch, would reducing the quality of the game graphics and sounds help ? For example, shortening the musics and removing the effects like particles, glows, blurs, things that use half-transparency, etc. Basically making the game “old school” pixel art.
    Or would theses changes make no difference at all ?

    • Downscaling things would just result in a more disappointing end-result.

      The best way to port is to properly optimize the code that is there. The Switch and any modern console should handle the complexity of CrossCode well enough (it’s just easy pixel graphics in the end), it’s just about proper optimization, which unfortunately isn’t that easy.

  • Daisuke Tabata on December 23, 2018 at 2:13 am said:

    You do know that most indie devs make most of their money on Switch now, right?
    So, that’s a whole shitload of revenue that you just flushed down the toilet by either not planning ahead or being lazy to reprogram for the Switch and other consoles. Take a look at the sales numbers of other indie games. Just sayin’…
    Also kind of a dickish way to respond to your fans. I’m def gonna pirate this game now. 🤷🏻‍♂️

    • We know that Indies are very successful on the Switch and things don’t take longer because the platform is not attractive for us enough.

      It takes longer because it’s difficult.

      So we’re working on it and we’ve got the requests quite a lot, which is why we made this post just to communicate things more “effectively”.

      It’s not very nice to call us lazy, because we do try to port it. It’s also not nice to pirate the game.

      But you know, it’s okay, because things already look very good financially for us, even without the Switch.

      Go pirate the game, at least you can see that good games can be played on other platforms than the Switch.

    • Bananaramagama-sama on December 27, 2018 at 6:31 am said:

      It’s gotten a tad cliched to call gamers entitled, but if the shoe fits…

      Daisuke, if you want to patronize someone for being a dick, maybe you should take a look in the mirror. There’s nothing “dickish” in explaining that Nintendo does not support HTML 5 and has no plans to, but there’s plenty in holding a perceived loss of profit over the devs’ heads (despite the game selling well, deservedly) and calling them lazy for not wanting to rebuild the game from the ground up for one specific console – even though they said *they still plan on porting the game* – then proudly declaring you’ll pirate the game over it. Way to make an asshole of yourself.

      Anyway, self-indulgent jerks aside, my thanks to the dev team for their hard work. Looking forward to the skin and postgame content. Happy Holidays!

  • PlasticPack on December 23, 2018 at 9:19 am said:

    I’m glad to give an extra dollar for this awesome game and skin :) Don’t forget to rest for the holidays ;)

  • All Dumb-and-Dumber quote joking aside, I am thoroughly enjoying the game on my PC. I really appreciate all the hard work and effort that has gone into it, and that you guys continue to support and add to it. Sincere thank you to the team.

    I’ll put it this way- I’m happy with what I’ve got. If it ever DOES make it’s way to my Switch, I’ll buy it again :)

  • First I just have to say thank you for an amazing game and experience. I haven’t had this much fun playing a game in a long time, and this is coming from a 28 year old millennial who just got done playing red dead redemption and Spider-Man on the ps4. Speaking of the PS4 it’s my understanding that a port to that console was in the works? I know you’ve stated time and time again that the game is difficult to move to console. It’s difficult for me as a gamer to play and share the experience as I don’t have steam anymore and neither do any of my friends. I’d even settle for a iOS version of the game at this point.

  • Switch has Nintendo web framework. Which can be used to compile html/js to switch.

  • I know you have taken a look to this option already, but why not hire some devs to only reprogam the game? The invest will be far worth

  • John Johnson on December 30, 2018 at 6:15 am said:

    Demo was great, but I’m just going to pirate the game due to the steam-only content decision though. Glad I held off on getting it on itch because I would definitely be regretting my purchase now.

  • Well, I better start teaching my Hedgehog to fly then… It’s sad but I’m still just happy that this game is out.

  • On the topic of the Switch version, how hard would it be to just run an embedded browser on the switch? It seems like using Blink or Geko should be doable. Porting Ozone or XPCOM to switch might be a bit of a pain, but really shouldn’t be too bad (I don’t have access to the Switch SDK to even investigate the complexity of this).

    The only real blocker I could see is if the Switch doesn’t allow for write/execute memory to dissallow JIT compilation (similar to iOS). This would make using V8 impossible (as Ignition doesn’t really do much without TurboFan) and SpiderMonkey much slower (since IonMonkey wouldn’t work).

    It would be great if Nintendo made the Switch DevKit more generally available so I could just try it and see what the performance looked like.

  • thanks so much for your work! many of us definitely understand that porting is no simple matter.

    to the pathetic trash like some in the comments whose self worth are tied to how much they can complain, thou shalt fuckest off.

    ninja skin is really cool too!
    happy holidays!

  • Celso Ribeiro on January 7, 2019 at 10:48 pm said:

    Hello,
    I think the new ninja Skin is awesome, but I must admit I’m a bit disappointed with the way to get it: just pay a small fee, and you can use it? Sounds too easy.
    I suggest you make a DLC in the form of a sidequest, even a small one, in order to give us a sense of achievement for the Ninja Skin, something that says “I earned this perk with my skill, hell yeah” and so on. I would even pay extra for the DLC that way :D

  • Hello, I am sure lot of people asking for ports and everything else, and I am just curious but still asking the nearly same question is the ps4 port still planned to happen and if yes approximately when can we except it?

  • Hylian Ticipated on January 23, 2019 at 5:27 pm said:

    This post aged well.

  • Gut gemacht! :)

  • Bloodycake on January 23, 2019 at 6:41 pm said:

    So, Hedgehogs really learned to fly. I never thought this will be possible.

  • Nice move with the switch version, nice move

  • I guess hedgehogs learned to fly.

2 Trackbacks

  • […] indie games broadcast, CrossCode’s Switch port comes as a particular surprise. It was just a month or so ago that developer Radical Fish implied a Switch release would be very unlikely, due to the game being […]

  • […] successful Indie RPG CrossCode, famously said that a Nintendo Switch version of the game would be “coming to Switch when Hedgehags learn to fly.” Now, almost exactly a year and a half later CrossCode is not only coming to Switch, but to […]

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