Paprium Developer WaterMelon Games Updates Backers: New Information to Follow Soon

The long-running saga of Paprium, the ambitious side-scrolling beat 'em up from developer WaterMelon Games, remains one of the most protracted and debated stories in retro gaming.

Originally available for pre-order in 2017, Paprium aimed to revive the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive era with a modern twist, but its path to players has been anything but straightforward. Despite the initial promise and excitement from the retro gaming community, Paprium's debut was marred by delays and a release in quantities too limited to satisfy the substantial pre-order base.

As years passed, many early supporters were left waiting for their boxed copies, leading to mounting frustration and concerns about the project's longevity. In 2022, WaterMelon Games sought to address these lingering issues by launching a new crowdfunding campaign.

The goal was to expand Paprium's reach to additional platforms and, crucially, to generate the capital necessary to fulfill outstanding orders.

Yet, following this initiative, communication from the company grew sparse, and updates became infrequent—a point of concern for many backers and retro gaming enthusiasts alike. This week, WaterMelon Games broke its silence with a statement posted to its Patreon page.

The developer extended New Year wishes for 2025 and expressed gratitude for the community's continued patience.

The message acknowledged the recent lack of updates but assured supporters that progress, albeit slow, is being made.

The studio reiterated its commitment to the project, stating that, "Further information will be provided in due course." Physical copies of Paprium do exist—media outlets like Time Extension have received theirs—but a significant number of customers from the 2017 pre-order campaign are still awaiting shipment.

The situation has drawn criticism from the gaming community, with some labeling Paprium's timeline and fulfillment issues as one of the most controversial episodes in recent retro gaming history.

Reports estimate more than a million dollars were raised, yet many backers remain empty-handed years on. Despite these challenges, Paprium's distinctive pixel art, robust combat system, and unique development story continue to fuel interest among Sega Genesis/Mega Drive collectors and retro gaming fans.

The saga serves as a cautionary tale about the complexities of independent game development and crowdfunding in the modern era. As WaterMelon Games assures that more news is forthcoming, the gaming community is watching closely, eager for a resolution and the wide release that Paprium's backers were promised.

Stay tuned for further verified updates as the story develops.

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