James Pond Legacy: The Pond Is Not Enough Collection Announced for Nintendo Switch 2 and Modern Platforms

Veteran publisher System 3 has marked its 43rd anniversary in the video game industry with a major announcement: the upcoming release of 'James Pond Legacy: The Pond Is Not Enough.' This retrospective collection will bring the adventures of James Pond, one of gaming’s most memorable platform characters, to a new generation of players on modern hardware, including Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox, and PC. The newly revealed collection is described by System 3 as “a celebration of one of gaming’s most enduring and beloved characters.” Players can look forward to “faithfully emulated versions of the original Sega, SNES, and Amiga titles, preserving their classic gameplay exactly as players remember them.” This release aims to appeal to both longtime fans and newcomers who want to experience the charm and challenge that defined these classic platformers. While System 3 has yet to confirm the exact lineup included in James Pond Legacy: The Pond Is Not Enough, the most iconic titles in the series are widely anticipated to feature.

These classics include: - James Pond: Underwater Agent (1990) - James Pond 2: Codename Robocod (1991) - James Pond 3: Operation Starfish (1993) - The Aquatic Games Starring James Pond and the Aquabats (1992) The publisher has revealed the game’s official cover artwork as part of the announcement.

The new art signals the ongoing commitment to celebrating James Pond, a franchise with roots stretching back over three decades. System 3 commented that the forthcoming collection "marks the next step in the continuing James Pond legacy," emphasizing their plans to honor the character’s storied history while making it accessible to a broad, modern audience via contemporary hardware platforms such as Nintendo Switch 2. However, the enduring popularity of James Pond has also led to overlapping projects and shared rights.

Rival firm Gameware Europe is developing its own new entry titled 'James Pond: Rogue AI,' though this project has drawn criticism from series creator Chris Sorrell.

In a discussion with Time Extension earlier this year, Sorrell expressed regret over the divided ownership of the character, stating, “It’s disappointing to see two companies competing over what’s left of the brand.” 'James Pond Legacy: The Pond Is Not Enough' stands as a significant revival for retro gaming fans and marks a high-profile return for System 3.

This collection will be available on Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox, and PC.

More details, including release dates and the definitive list of included games, are expected soon.

This release encapsulates System 3’s enduring influence in the gaming industry, reaffirming its commitment to preserving video game history for future generations.

Nintendo Switch 2 Nintendo Switch Nintendo PlayStation Switch 2 PlayStation 5 PC Xbox Switch System 3 James Pond James Pond Legacy The Pond Is Not Enough Gameware Europe Chris Sorrell