Studio MDHR's run and gun action game Cuphead received a surprise launch on the PlayStation 4 yesterday. The stylishly animated game had previously only been available on Xbox One, Windows PC, and Nintendo Switch, but yesterday the indie studio announced and released the game on PS4 simultaneously.
Accompanying the announcement was a heartfelt message from Studio MDHR co-director Chad Moldenhauer:
Like so many of you, we grew exploring the worlds of classic PlayStation titles, from Resident Evil to Vandal Hearts. So it’s surreal to think about players adventuring through Cuphead today with a PlayStation controller in hand.
Cuphead offers a unique blend of '80s and '90s-inspired arcade action gameplay with visuals inspired by the classic animated movies and cartoon shorts of the 1930s. Despite its welcoming aesthetic, Cuphead is noted for its punishingly difficult gameplay. Playable in either single player or local-cop, players control the titular character, Cuphead, and Mugman, collecting the souls of massive bosses to save themselves from The Devil.
Cuphead was widely praised upon its release for its award-winning art style and has become a commercial success with over six million copies sold so far. The success of Cuphead also led to Netflix announcing a new series, The Cuphead Show!, that will revolve around the characters and expand upon the universe. While a teaser for the upcoming show was recently released, no premiere date has been announced yet.