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505 Games recently purchased developer Infinity Plus Two, a studio that owned the rights to the Puzzle Quest match-3 series. This series started in 2007 and is fondly remembered thanks to the fact that it popularized the mechanics of RPG in match-3 games, adding depth to the genre, while offering a fair price. Of course, things have changed in the last 14 years, and now the match-3 genre is practically synonymous with terrible monetization, especially on mobile. Well, 505 Games has just announced that it will bring Puzzle Quest 3 to mobile and PC devices later this year. Unfortunately, we already know that the developer plans to release the title as a free-to-play release, so I wouldn’t have much hope for this long-awaited follow-up, as its stated direction is worrying.
505 Games has released a Puzzle Quest 3 trailer along with the announcement that the game will be released later this year. As you would expect, none of the game was shown. The trailer is cinematic. So, for now, no one knows what Puzzle Quest 3 will look like or how it will work.
What we do know is that the game will contain some type of 1 on 1 battle system and that the story will take place 500 years after the events of the original Puzzle Quest. Therefore, at least new game mechanics are planned, although I am suspicious that this will simply signal the arrival of abusive F2P systems. So, I hope that 505 Games is not planning to use its newly acquired Puzzle Quest license to profit. Of course, there is no way to know now how things are going to develop, so hopefully 505 will have more to share in the future that will shed some light on how the studio plans to monetize the title. Until then, feel free to sign up for game updates on official website.
505 GAMES ANUNCES PUZZLE QUEST 3, NEW INSTALLATION FOR THE ORIGINAL SERIES
Hit Franchise Continues Legacy as a Free-to-Play Multiplatform Launch in 2021
CALABASAS, Calif. – January 21, 2021 – Global video game publisher 505 Games today announced Puzzle Quest 3 (PQ3), a brand new version of the groundbreaking and highly successful puzzle RPG franchise. This will be the first official release under 505 Games, following the recent acquisition of Infinity Plus Two, the Australian game development studio and creators of the acclaimed Puzzle Quest series, which generated over $ 200 million in revenue and amassed around 32 million of users globally under the franchise. The team is on track to deliver PQ3 as a free-to-play (F2P) multiplatform title to be released later this year.
“After a huge fan demand in the last decade for the next edition of Puzzle Quest, we are excited to finally reveal the development of Puzzle Quest 3,” said Steve Fawkner, CEO and creative leader for Infinity Plus Two. “The vision for this latest project took years to realize and, like any good Puzzle Quest game, it is a delicate balance of gameplay, story and strategic puzzle solution while presenting something unexpected that will please old fans so much as for the new ones. We can’t wait to share PQ3. “
Puzzle Quest 3 returns to its origins, recalling the deep mechanics of RPG and heroic stories that made the original a standout success in the Match-3 category. Now featuring a twist on traditional puzzle gameplay, PQ3 offers an intense 1 on 1 battle system performed in a 3D game world. Taking place 500 years after the original Puzzle Quest, players will embark on a heroic journey through Etheria to discover the meaning behind the words of the ancient Red Dragon.
“Puzzle Quest defined the puzzle-RPG genre, creating a beloved franchise with a rich heritage that continues to resonate with a player base of millions around the world today. The work that Steve [Fawkner] and his team did to reintroduce the franchise as a cross-platform F2P experience, no doubt reinventing the puzzle genre once again. As a unified publishing and development team, we have created a path for the franchise that puts the player first so that we can better serve our growing community, ”said Clive Robert, head of Free-to-Play at 505 Games.
Puzzle Quest 3 presents a new adventure to become the supreme hero, battling and building a legacy in exciting one-on-one combat. The game includes an engaging battle system where players cast torturous spells and paralyzing attacks through the power of smashing gems in an improved turn-based system. Puzzle Quest 3 once again goes beyond the limits of the genre by introducing new and creative game mechanics. The game will be available to fans worldwide, on a wide variety of mobile and PC devices later this year, with additional platforms to be announced.
Get ready for a new mission and get updates on Puzzle Quest 3 through the game’s official website at www.PuzzleQuest3.com, and follow us on social media: Facebook and Twitter @ puzzlequest3.
Puzzle Quest 3 now available in early access
We didn’t know when Puzzle Quest 3 would be released for Android when 505 Games announced the match-3 puzzle in January. It looks like today is the first day of early access, so the game is available for download on the Play Store. As expected, it is a free version and is therefore full of in-app purchases ranging from up to $ 99.99 per item. So, if you were hoping for a return to form for the series, I’m saddened by today’s release, that’s not it.
Still, for those curious to see exactly what 505 Games is offering with the early access launch of Puzzle Quest 3 on Android, you can download the free installation from the Play Store widget below.
