Cooking Mama Cookstar released on March 31st, but it wasn't a smooth launch at all. The Nintendo Switch title has been on the receiving end of controversy ever since it hit the shelves, with the publisher originally hinting towards the usage of blockchain in their title, which helped spark rumors of a cryptocurrency. Dataminers later confirmed there wasn't anything of the sort, and the Nintendo Switch console isn't likely to be an efficient mining device. Some of the confusion may also be due to Planet Entertainment using cryptocurrency for funding, and then later looking at using it in titles.
Not only that, but its removal from the Nintendo eShop shortly after its release also suggested a feud between the IP owner Office Create and publisher Planet Entertainment (developer 1st Playable has largely been quiet and outside the feud).
The latest development of the story following Office Create's notice earlier on the situation was Planet Entertainment finally responding. The studio clarified the release was "an unauthorized release in breach of Planet’s contract with Office Create."
The following is a snippet from Office Create's statement on the matter, explaining how the misunderstanding happen. Planet Entertainment was supposed to change certain parts of the game based on Office Create's feedback prior to the release, which didn't happen and the accidental release occurred with the unedited version. Further down the post, it denies any form of PS4 port in the works, as supposedly teased by Planet and its European distributor, Koch Media (the parent of Deep Silver). Office Create ends it off with potentially taking Planet Entertainment to court over the latest incident, and their willingness to take all the legal action necessary to protect their Cooking Mama IP.
In August 2018, Office Create licensed Planet to develop the Cooking Mama: Cookstar game for Nintendo Switch™. Unfortunately, the quality of the game builds failed to meet the standards that our customers expect and deserve. Office Create rejected a wide range of deficiencies affecting the overall feel, quality and content of the game. Yet, despite being contractually obligated to correct the identified deficiencies and resubmit the corrected game for Office Create’s approval, Planet proceeded to release Cooking Mama: Cookstar without addressing all of the rejections and without Office Create’s approval.
Planet Entertainment finally released a statement of its own responding to the situation as well and clarifying what went wrong. However, there are certain points it doesn't address at all, specifically the alleged PS4 port. Planet's post completely sidesteps addressing the possibility of a PS4 release for Cooking Mama Cookstar.
— Cooking Mama: Cookstar (@CookstarMama) April 15, 2020
With the game unable to be sold on the eShop currently, Planet Entertainment continues to sell Cooking Mama: Cookstar as it can. This has been through physical copies, including directly on its website, where they have since sold out. They also list retailers it's available for sale at on their site, listing Amazon, Gamestop, and Walmart with several more listed as coming soon.
What do you think of the situation between Planet Entertainment and Office Create over Cooking Mama: Cookstar? Have you managed to give the game a try on your Nintendo Switch? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section down below.
