Way of the Passive Fist Coming To Nintendo Switch

Toronto developer Household Games is joining the Switch-port crew and releasing their 90’s brawler inspired Way of the Passive Fist to Nintendo Switch on April 11th. It looks like the game is listed at $18.99 CAD on the Nintendo eshop.

If you can’t wait until April 11th, you can pick up the game on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC where it launched this time last year. Check out the trailer and press release below.

Reverse Brawler Way Of The Passive Fist Comes to Nintendo Switch on April 11

Toronto, ON. March 28, 2019. Indie devs Household Games announced today that the genre-bending defensive brawler Way of the Passive Fist is coming to Nintendo Switch. At a glance the game is full of 90's beat-em-up aesthetics with sprites that dwarf Battletoads or Final Fight, but a closer look reveals the game's clever twist: the player parries, dodges, and reverses attacks to stay alive in a post-apocalyptic wasteland where exhaustion equals death.

Instead of punching and kicking through hordes of nameless thugs, watch for openings, time your parries, and shoot for that high score. The game's addictive stage-by-stage gameplay is perfect for the pickup and play nature of the console, and brings all its pixel art glory in handheld or docked mode. The bombastic, pulse-pounding soundtrack is the icing on the sand-and-sweat covered cake, and if the feeling of knocking back waves of enemies on top of a speeding train to a wailing electric guitar doesn't scream "arcade experience," we don't know what does.

With a fully customizable difficulty setting (no easy, medium, or hard here!), and a refreshing take on classic beat-em-up gameplay, Way of the Passive Fist is a brand new experience for action-loving Nintendo Switch players. 

Features

- Customizable difficulty setting lets players decide how many enemies appear at a time, how hard they hit, how forgiving the combo counter is, and even how many checkpoints there are.

- Contains all the content from Way of The Passive Fist's NEW DAWN Edition, including a brand new training mode to let you practice and perfect your parries.

- Procedural roguelite survival mode "Passiverse" challenges the most calm masters to stay alive amidst an unpredictable set of challenges.

- Hours of content with Story, New Dawn Epilogue, and Passiverse, plus new difficulty settings that dictate new ways to play. Try for a playthrough of super-difficult enemies or minimal checkpoints.

About Household Games Inc.

Founded in 2016 by Jason Canam and based in Toronto, Canada, Household Games is an independent studio focused on creating high-quality and stylized original IP content for consoles and PC. The small team made up of DrinkBox Studios, Queasy Games, and Silicon Knights alumni are combining forces, and their passions, to develop video games that are fun and accessible for all ages and ability levels. Household Games launched their debut title, Way of the Passive Fist, in early March 2018.

New Dawn Update Out Now For Way of the Passive Fist

Way of the Passive Fist came out earlier this year, we even spoke to Jason Canam shortly after it released, and now the game has been updated with the "New Dawn" update.

The New Dawn update is a free download and includes a new Epilogue campaign "New Dawn" which has 5 stages, a new rogue-like Survival Mode, as well as some revamped story and difficult adjustments..

#WayOfThePassiveFist is BIGGER and BETTER than EVER with our greatest update yet: NEW DAWN!

NEW DAWN is live on Steam, and is coming soon to consoles!https://t.co/YOS063pNEw pic.twitter.com/MAn3FKLWIH

— Household Games (@HHGamesInc) June 21, 2018

If you own Way of the Passive Fist then you can download the free update now. If not, the game is currently on sale on Steam.

Interview - Jason Canam From Household Games

Our first audio-interview! We've put the podcast on hold for he time being, and instead we'll be doing interview with local developers/people. Bret and I have a few ideas on hand as well.

First up is Jason Canam from Household Games who just recently released Way of the Passive Fist on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. Jason and I chat about his time at Drinkbox Studios, starting Household Games, accessibility in games, trophies/achievements and more!

Check it out and remember to subscribe on iTunes.

Way of the Passive Fist Out Now On PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC

Way of the Passive Fist, Household Games' debut game, is out now on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC (Steam, Humble, Green Man Gaming). I played the first few levels of the game last night and really enjoyed my time so far - it's a fun experience that is a mix of 16-bit Beat em Up's, and Punchout. Check out the trailer below and check the game out on your prefered platform!

Way of the Passive Fist is NOW AVAILABLE on Steam, PS4, and Xbox One! Steam: http://store.steampowered.com/app/625680/Way_of_the_Passive_Fist/ Humble Store: https://www.humblebundle.com/store/way-of-the-passive-fist Green Man Gaming: https://www.greenmangaming.com/games/way-of-the-passive-fist-pc/ Play a new, original brawler that Rock, Paper, Shotgun calls "Parrylicious"! © Household Games 2018

Way Of The Passive Fist Coming March 6th

We've been following Way of the Passive Fist's development since it was first announced in 2016, and now it looks like Household Games are ready to launch their debut side scrolling game. 

"Parry, dodge, dash and unleash counter attacks to survive on the harsh world of Zircon V in this comic book sci-fi universe filled with raiders, mutants, fanatics and mad scientists. Master new skills in this unique take on the brawler and be the ultimate Passive Fist!"

ay of the Passive Fist will be hitting PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Steam on March 6th.

Way of the Passive Fist is launching March 6th 2018, coming to PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Steam! Wishlist on Steam: http://store.steampowered.com/app/625680/Way_of_the_Passive_Fist/ http://www.wayofthepassivefist.com Follow Household Games: Twitter: @HHGamesInc Facebook: facebook.com/householdgames/ Instagram: @HouseholdGames Parry, dodge, dash and unleash counter attacks to survive on the harsh world of Zircon V in this comic book sci-fi universe filled with raiders, mutants, fanatics and mad scientists.

WAY OF THE PASSIVE FIST, SET TO LAUNCH MARCH 6 FOR PS4, XBOX ONE AND PC

Household Games’ Debut Title, Way of the Passive Fist, is a

Love Letter to the Great Licensed Cartoon Arcade Brawlers of the 90s

Toronto, CANADA – February 20, 2018 – Way of the Passive Fist, the debut title from Household Games, is slated to release on March 6, 2018 on the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system via the PlayStation®Store, Xbox One on the Xbox Games Store as part of the ID@Xbox program (available March 7), and Windows PC/Mac/Linux via Steam for $14.99 USD (€11.99). Fans on Steam can wishlist the title now: http://store.steampowered.com/app/625680/Way_of_the_Passive_Fist/

In Way of the Passive Fist, a side-scrolling action arcade brawler, players take on the role of the mysterious Wanderer and master a rare defensive fighting style to outsmart and outlast their enemies. While utilizing parries, deflections, dashes, and dodges, the Wanderer’s foes exhaust themselves to the point that they can then be defeated and knocked out by a single finger “punch” or push.

During the development of Way of the Passive Fist - a love letter to the great licensed cartoon arcade brawlers of the 90s - the team applied a forward-thinking approach to accessibility, to shake up the traditional brawler game mechanics and give players a fresh take on the brawler genre. Players will be able to fully remap the control scheme to play one-handed, modify the game settings if they’re visually impaired or sensitive to sudden flashing lights, as well as customize gameplay difficulty settings to fit their play-style.

“We’re extremely excited to ‘unlock an indie studio achievement’ and to launch our first title, Way of the Passive Fist! It’s been such an awesome adventure and humbling experience for our small, yet ambitious, team,” says Jason Canam, Founder of Household Games. “We hope that players, especially fans of classic 90s arcade brawlers or fighting games, are quick to notice two distinctive characteristics in Way of the Passive Fist  - this isn’t your typical action arcade brawler since button mashing won’t get you far and it’s all about timing defensive moves, as well as the unique accessibility features .”

To learn more about Way of the Passive Fist, visit: www.wayofthepassivefist.com. Fans can follow the game and studio via social media: Twitter @HHGamesInc, Instagram @householdgames and Facebook www.facebook.com/householdgames.

Made Possible with the support of the Ontario Media Development Corporation.

About Household Games Inc.

Founded in 2016 by Jason Canam and based in Toronto, Canada, Household Games is an independent studio focused on creating high-quality and stylized original IP content for consoles and PC. The small team of DrinkBox Studios, Queasy Games & Silicon Knights alumni are combining forces, and their passions, to develop videogames that are fun and accessible for all ages and ability levels. Household Games is currently at work on their debut title, Way of the Passive Fist.

Way Of The Passive Fist Gets Steam Page - Aimed For Early 2018 Release

Here's something we missed, but Way of the Passive Fist now has a Steam page in which you can add the game to your wishlist. On the page as well, it says it will be available early 2018. The game is also expected to hit PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

A mysterious figure known only as the Wanderer travels across the distant planet of Zircon V, a once prosperous mining colony that is now on the brink of destruction in the face of its dying star. By using the Passive Fist technique, the Wanderer can outlast any foe by deflecting their attacks and draining their stamina. With colonists disappearing and maniacs running wild, the Wanderer must stand firm, stay calm and fight for answers in this unique modern brawler!

#WayOfThePassiveFist Steam page is now live! It's Coming soon, but you can wishlist the game and get updates! https://t.co/1rBUeHwQgE pic.twitter.com/lgm4kbUOYk

— Household Games (@HHGamesInc) August 14, 2017

Household Games Announces 'Way of the Passive Fist' - Coming 2017

Back in July Jason Canam, a vet from DrinkBox Studios, went his own way and created his own studio - Household Games. They promised an announcement soon for their new IP.  In an interview with me they talked about working on the new IP.

This week, the gang announced via the PlayStation Blog their new IP is titled Way of the Passive Fist, and will be an action beat-em up with a twist:

"In Way of the Passive Fist you play as The Wanderer, a mysterious figure of unknown origin who has mastered the art of the Passive Fist and fights enemies defensively to wear down even the mightiest of opponents. Unlike most arcade-style brawlers, The Wanderer doesn’t have a basic attack like a punch or a kick, instead you have an array of parries, deflections and dodges at your disposal."

Way of the Passive Fist is the licensed arcade brawler for the 90's cartoon you wish existed. http://www.wayofthepassivefist.com Fight defensively by using an array of parries, deflections and dodges to wear down even the mightiest of opponents. By mastering the Passive Fist technique, The Wanderer continues to endure in the face of desert raiders, mad scientists and fantaical sun worshippers.

From the very beginning, we set out to create a licensed game for the 90’s cartoon we wish existed. A lot of my favorite games are the licensed brawlers based on popular cartoons and comic books, and I wanted Way of the Passive Fist to have the same level of exuberance and flair. That feeling when you get to a boss fight and you come face-to-face with one of the villains from the show, that’s a feeling I’d like to create in the game. 

The game’s setting is Planet Eiectus, a world ruled by its volatile and overwhelming sun. Everything on this world is solar powered, but the harsh conditions also make survival extremely difficult. Exhausting oneself is a death sentence. By mastering the Passive Fist technique, The Wanderer continues to endure in the face of desert raiders, mad scientists and fanatical sun worshippers.

Make sure to check out the gang over on Twitter, something else important to Way of the Passive Fist accessible, and working with @halfcoordinated.

What I've been working on with @HHGamesInc as an accessibility and design consultant has been revealed! So excited! https://t.co/gWdfz4q4rt

— halfcoordinated (@halfcoordinated) November 28, 2016

The game is expected to hit the PlayStation 4 in 2017. If you're at PSX this weekend you'll be able to play the game.

Exclusive Interview: Household Games Talks About New Studio

A few weeks ago Jason Canam, a designer from DrinkBox Studios, announced opening his new studio Household Games. Jason was kind enough to do an email interview about his time at Drinkbox, and his plans for Household. Check it out below!

TorontoGameDevs.com: Thanks for taking some time today, congrats on the announcement regarding Household Games!  Before we dive into that, can you give us a little bio? What kind of gamer are you? How long have you been a designer?

Jason Canam: Thanks for having me and for the kind words! I’m Jason Canam, I’m the Founder and Director at Household Games, and I’ve been playing games since the early 80s. My earliest memories of playing video games are playing games on an Atari 2600. The first game I was a “fan” of was Pitfall II: Lost Caverns. Most games of the era were simple “score attack” games where you simply played for as long as possible to get the highest score but Pitfall II had an ending, it could be completed -- a fact that blew my mind as a kid! That was the point that I fell in love with video games.

I like to play everything. I play a mix of current games and classic games. I speedrun a couple of games: Donkey Kong Country 2 for the SNES (102%) and Mega Man X for the SNES. I consider myself an “amateur speedrunner”. Speedrunning is a fantastic gaming sub-culture. I’m a completionist, too. I love going for Platinum Trophies! I will play a game until I 100% complete it, if I really enjoy it – I’m not one to slog through a game I hate just for trophies/achievements.

I have been a developer since 2007, and have been a designer since 2010. I got my start working in QA at Capcom Interactive (now Beeline Interactive) and spent a few years working on mobile and casual games (at studios like Gameloft) before moving on to working on core games at DrinkBox.

TorontoGameDevs.com: What was working at DrinkBox Studios like? How has working on Guacamelee, and Severed helped with launching your own studio?

Jason: Working at DrinkBox for just over 3 years was a great experience. It’s a top-notch team and I’ve greatly learned much from the wisdom and expertise of all of the team members there. Both Guacamelee! and Severed are incredible games, and I’m glad and honored to have had even a small hand in the development of those games.

I recently realized that I’m now in the enviable position that I get to experience any future DrinkBox games completely blind (just like everyone else!). So, I’m really looking forward to what’s coming next from them.

TorontoGameDevs.com: What made you decide to venture out on your own, and start your own company? Who are some of the people working with you?

Jason: Many things lined up to make it happen, that, and a lot of realizations. I realized that I have gotten to a point where I am familiar with, and more importantly comfortable with, all of the elements and facets of game development. This doesn’t mean I can do it all myself, but that I have a very comprehensive understanding of game development. I also had the realization that I know some very talented professionals that I could approach about joining me on this admittedly ambitious undertaking. I’m quite honored that they trust in me and I am very grateful to have such talented people on the team. With everything in sync, it was the right time to start Household Games, and I’m looking forward to showing the world what we’re capable of!

The team is really great, and the biggest reason that I’m so excited for the game. With a team this experienced and talented, I’m certain that the game will turn out exactly how I envision it. Everything from the code, to the visuals and to the sound are all being handled by experts who will undoubtedly deliver.

We did some brief introductions on Twitter (@HHGamesInc), and we will be doing some livestreams this summer talking with the team and discussing, while playing, their favourite games. We’ll be announcing the streams on twitter very soon.

TorontoGameDevs.com: What would you say the company vision is? Anything you can tell us about the first game?

Jason: My goal with Household Games is to make games that are creative and engaging, but fun above all else. Of course, “fun” is a pretty intangible and subjective term! But at the end of the day, that’s what games are all about. But let’s not forget that games are powerful things, that can have powerful messages, and they mean a lot to people (myself included), but they can be meaningful and fun.

I wish I could say more, but for now, all I can say is that our first game will be created with our core values in mind, and it’ll be something special, indeed!

TorontoGameDevs.com: What's it like being a GameDev in Toronto? Finding talent and the community as a whole? 

Jason: I think it’s pretty safe to say that Toronto is one of the best places in the world for game developers. And that’s thanks to the incredible, supportive, collaborative and inclusive game dev community that exists in Toronto. “Toronto” is very much a member of the Household Games team.

The HHG team is made up of pros that I’ve worked with in the past, as well as people that I’ve always wanted the chance to work with. And to be honest, there are many more that I’d love to work with in the future!

Makes me proud when people tell me about their favourite games and they happen to be developed here. I’m in good company and wouldn’t trade it for anything.

TorontoGameDevs.com: Thanks again! Any last things you want to let our readers know?

The team is hard at work on the game to get it to the point where we can show it off. Please follow us at @HHGamesInc and stay tuned for info this summer!

Thanks for all the support! The team is super excited to show things off this summer! pic.twitter.com/IfjrBDWbRp

— Household Games (@HHGamesInc) June 30, 2016

New Toronto Developer Household Games Forms - Working On Original IP

Jason Canam, a designer who worked on Guacamelee and Severed has branched out and formed his own studio Household Games.  They've said they are working on a original IP planned for consoles, and we should expect some details shortly, but in the meantime, I did snag some of their tweets which you can check out below. Make sure to follow them on Twitter and give them a huge congrats on coming together!

Thrilled to announce that @JasonCanam and @jefffuel (Sound programmer on @soundshapes) are partnering to make a rock-solid action title!

— Household Games (@HHGamesInc) June 29, 2016

Striving for "a crazy, ridiculously rockin' soundtrack" is quite the lofty goal... luckily we have @OFalconer on the job! Gonna sound great!

— Household Games (@HHGamesInc) June 29, 2016

Presented, w/o context (for now) one of the character designs for our upcoming unannounced game (by @benthomasaurus) pic.twitter.com/NDemF3hjWg

— Household Games (@HHGamesInc) June 29, 2016

Here's a set of environment roughs, courtesy of @benthomasaurus #gamedev #indiedev #conceptart pic.twitter.com/2TlNBFn8nn

— Household Games (@HHGamesInc) June 29, 2016