Are you ready, kids? THQ Nordic announced today that it will be releasing a remastered version of the beloved 2003 platformer SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom for PS4, Xbox One, PC, and Nintendo Switch. Originally released for the PS2, Xbox, and GameCube, Battle for Bikini Bottom didn’t light the world on fire upon its initial release, but its overall quality and charm quickly won over fans, earning the game cult classic status. You can check out the short teaser below.
The trailer doesn’t reveal much, but we do know the game is being developed by Purple Lamp Studios, the team behind the PC game The Guild 3. What’s interesting about the trailer is the description, which reads as follows:
Are you ready, kids? The cult classic is back, faithfully remade in spongetastic splendor! Play as SpongeBob, Patrick and Sandy and show the evil Plankton that crime pays even less than Mr. Krabs. Want to save Bikini Bottom from lots of rampant robots? Of course you do! Want to underpants bungee jump? Why wouldn’t you! Want to join forces in a brand new multiplayer mode? The battle is on!
The description mentions “a brand new multiplayer mode.” The original Battle for Bikini Bottom was an entirely single-player experience, so it’ll be interesting to see what the developers have in mind when it comes to multiplayer or any other new additions to the title. We didn’t see any gameplay either, so it’s unknown if the game will simply see a resolution boost or a complete graphical overhaul. The sponge won’t be making an appearance at E3 2019, but you can get your hands on SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom – Rehydrated sometime in 2020.
This is the first in a trilogy of announcements that THQ Nordic will make prior to E3. You can catch the next reveal tomorrow, June 6 at 11 AM PT and the final reveal on Friday, June 7 at 11 AM PT.
UPDATE: The game’s Steam page is up, giving us a look at some screenshots with greatly improved visuals. The Steam description elaborates on the multiplayer mode, revealing it as a horde mode playable with up to two players online or in split-screen. The remake will also feature content that was cut from the game’s original release, including the Robo Squidward boss fight that never made its way into the final game and more.