System 3 has publicly addressed ongoing delays for The Last Ninja Collection after a long-promised multi-platform release stalled, leaving backers waiting years after the original Kickstarter campaign.
In a detailed update, CEO Mark Cale explained why PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and Xbox versions remain unreleased and outlined the studio’s steps to fulfil outstanding physical and digital rewards.
Cale said Antstream — the contracted developer on the collection — informed System 3 that it would no longer continue work on the PS4, PS5 and Xbox releases “under the existing arrangements,” citing changing market conditions.
That left System 3 needing an alternative route to deliver for backers who supported those editions.
The company also revealed that Antstream had been contracted to produce an ‘Ultimate’ pack intended to celebrate System 3’s back catalogue, with planned inclusions such as Myth, Flimbo’s Quest, Vendetta, Tusker and Fuzzball.
Cale stated that work required to make the Ultimate Pack possible has not been delivered, and that, as far as System 3 can determine, development on that pack had not begun.
Cale reiterated that Antstream is entitled to take on other projects, noting the developer recently worked with Commodore on the Alien Breed 35th Anniversary Collection, which released on 24 September.
However, he said the issue is the outstanding contracted work for System 3 that remains almost two years late.
On handover materials, Cale said System 3 requested either the source code or, at minimum, the compiled binaries needed for another developer to continue the work.
Those materials have not been supplied, he said, and without them System 3 cannot simply hand the project to a new developer and expect a straightforward completion.
To move forward, System 3 entered discussions with Blaze Entertainment — the company behind the Evercade platform — to obtain binary files and source material through a separate arrangement.
Cale explained that Evercade and its emulation partners are helping System 3 bring the games to additional platforms as a practical alternative rather than leaving fulfilment dependent on a prolonged contractual dispute with Antstream.
Cale warned that Evercade cartridges are not interchangeable with PlayStation or Xbox releases: additional development, testing and platform approval work is still required.
He also noted the Evercade collections announced for Last Ninja and James Pond contain fewer games and lack some bonus features planned for the Antstream-developed versions, such as the James Pond “Pondverse” museum.
Acknowledging backers’ frustration, Cale apologised and said System 3’s priorities remain completing outstanding rewards, delivering The Last Ninja Collection on PS5 and Xbox, and resolving remaining obstacles for PS4.
He added that the relationship with Evercade is a means of progress, not a replacement for System 3’s Kickstarter commitments.
While this update centres on PlayStation and Xbox fulfilment, retro collections often reach audiences on platforms such as Nintendo Switch via the eShop and announcements like Nintendo Direct, and many backers will continue to watch for multi-platform release news.
System 3 says it is continuing discussions with Antstream while exploring contractual options, but its stated focus is getting the games finished for the backers who supported the project.
In a detailed update, CEO Mark Cale explained why PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and Xbox versions remain unreleased and outlined the studio’s steps to fulfil outstanding physical and digital rewards.
Cale said Antstream — the contracted developer on the collection — informed System 3 that it would no longer continue work on the PS4, PS5 and Xbox releases “under the existing arrangements,” citing changing market conditions.
That left System 3 needing an alternative route to deliver for backers who supported those editions.
The company also revealed that Antstream had been contracted to produce an ‘Ultimate’ pack intended to celebrate System 3’s back catalogue, with planned inclusions such as Myth, Flimbo’s Quest, Vendetta, Tusker and Fuzzball.
Cale stated that work required to make the Ultimate Pack possible has not been delivered, and that, as far as System 3 can determine, development on that pack had not begun.
Cale reiterated that Antstream is entitled to take on other projects, noting the developer recently worked with Commodore on the Alien Breed 35th Anniversary Collection, which released on 24 September.
However, he said the issue is the outstanding contracted work for System 3 that remains almost two years late.
On handover materials, Cale said System 3 requested either the source code or, at minimum, the compiled binaries needed for another developer to continue the work.
Those materials have not been supplied, he said, and without them System 3 cannot simply hand the project to a new developer and expect a straightforward completion.
To move forward, System 3 entered discussions with Blaze Entertainment — the company behind the Evercade platform — to obtain binary files and source material through a separate arrangement.
Cale explained that Evercade and its emulation partners are helping System 3 bring the games to additional platforms as a practical alternative rather than leaving fulfilment dependent on a prolonged contractual dispute with Antstream.
Cale warned that Evercade cartridges are not interchangeable with PlayStation or Xbox releases: additional development, testing and platform approval work is still required.
He also noted the Evercade collections announced for Last Ninja and James Pond contain fewer games and lack some bonus features planned for the Antstream-developed versions, such as the James Pond “Pondverse” museum.
Acknowledging backers’ frustration, Cale apologised and said System 3’s priorities remain completing outstanding rewards, delivering The Last Ninja Collection on PS5 and Xbox, and resolving remaining obstacles for PS4.
He added that the relationship with Evercade is a means of progress, not a replacement for System 3’s Kickstarter commitments.
While this update centres on PlayStation and Xbox fulfilment, retro collections often reach audiences on platforms such as Nintendo Switch via the eShop and announcements like Nintendo Direct, and many backers will continue to watch for multi-platform release news.
System 3 says it is continuing discussions with Antstream while exploring contractual options, but its stated focus is getting the games finished for the backers who supported the project.
