Nintendo fans devastated as free all-time classic goes offline – play now or miss out

NINTENDO has announced that an all-time classic free game is being removed.

It is currently available free to Nintendo Switch Online subscribers, but will go offline by the end of the year.

Nintendo

Compete against others online and show your Pac-Man prowess.[/caption]

Not only will the game be removed from the online service, but it will also be taken down from the store.

Pac-Man 99, an online version of the arcade classic, will begin shutting down from August 8, 2023.

The difference between Pac-Man 99 and the original Pac-Man is the way that you interact with the other 98 people playing simultaneously.

Players who are performing better can send out traps to other players in order to improve their chances of winning.

This added a competitive aspect to a gaming classic beyond getting a high score.

From August 8, players will no longer be able to purchase Pac-Man custom themes, but those purchased before this date can continue to be used.

A month later from September 8, 2023, the Pac-Man 99 Deluxe Pack, and the Pac-Man 99 Mode Unlock will also go offline and be removed from sale.

The complete shutdown of the service will take place on October 8, 2023, when it will no longer be playable online, or be available for free as part of the Nintendo Switch Online subscription.

It is important to note that those who purchase the game before October 8 will still be able to play offline modes after this date.

These include the usual Pac-Man 99 mode against AI opponents, as well as solo time attack modes which are more similar to classic Pac-Man.

If you have purchased the game, you will also be able to re-download Pac-Man 99 after it goes offline.

Finally, Nintendo warned that those who purchase Pac-Man 99 Deluxe Pack don’t need to purchase any of the additional DLC packs as these are included in the Deluxe edition.

Those who are interested in playing Pac-Man 99 the way it was originally intended have a few months left to give it a try.

Written by Georgina Young on behalf of GLHF.