The Punch-Out!! series has been quiet for some time, with the last release in the main series being released in 2009. Despite some silence, former partner of the franchise, Mike Tyson, has now spoken out about his desire to make another game. There have already been some rumors and leaks about a Mike Tyson led Punch-Out!! title and in an interview, Tyson himself suggested that a game was in the works although its development status is unknown.
Punch-Out!! started as an arcade title where gamers would control Little Mac and box their way through a series of opponents before becoming champion. During the height of Mike Tyson's boxing career, in the late 80s, he was the final boss in Punch-Out!! that players would attempt to defeat. However, this original contract only lasted three years and the boxer was replaced after the contract ran out. For that reason, many players will wonder how the statements by Tyson would be brought together into a cohesive game.
In an interview with Shacknews, Tyson claimed they were bringing the game back, "Hey listen, we're going to start our Punch-Out!! game and our own Tyson Ranch computer game and bring it back to life, man." Tyson Ranch is a cannabis licensing and branding company, and with this in mind, it may be difficult to reach a deal with Nintendo that usually endorses family-friendly games. Sponsorship details aside, Nintendo has not expressed a great deal of interest in the Punch-Out!! franchise and even with the support of Tyson, so it may not be something that the company considers economically viable.
It seems that long discussions would have to happen before elements such as sponsorship and licenses would be agreed upon. It will be interesting to see if Nintendo will pursue this opportunity with Tyson, or whether it would bring a current boxer into the Punch-Out!! franchise. A new boxer would make the final boss more relevant to newcomers and may avoid discussions of promoting other businesses because of their inclusion. With that said, Tyson has repeatedly stated his desire to be in another Punch-Out!! game and it is unclear whether Nintendo and the former boxer have been engaging in these discussions.
After the latest UFC game was leaked many players expressed their desire for a more traditional boxing game. Punch-Out!! could certainly fill this gap in the market, however, it seems that several legal teams may have to discuss terms before a title with Mike Tyson begins development.
Source: ShackNews