Electronic Arts need no introduction and neither do Velan Studio, for it is they who were previously behind Mario Kart Live. Now though the two have teamed up to deliver a new dodgeball inspired team based multiplayer affair to Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch and PC – Knockout City.
Due to launch on consoles come May 21st 2021, with a closed beta messing around on PC through Origin and Steam from February 20th, Knockout City is a cross-play, cross-progression dodgeball inspired game which turns the already mad real-world game into that of dodgeBRAWL! And whilst we don’t like to blow our own trumpet or owt, we’ve been saying for a while that dodgeball needs a good videogame.
Promising skills, depth and style in Knockout City intense battles are thought of as a way of life and players will need to master the art of throwing, catching, passing and dodging in order to discover any form of success. A joyful, yet highly competitive experience, it promises to smack them in the face with a host of surprises when it launches on May 21st.
“At Velan we obsess over finding new play experiences,” said Karthik Bala, Co-founder and CEO of Velan Studios. “Knockout City starts with the deceptively simple concept of throwing and catching a ball and layers in an incredible amount of skill, depth and style, for a refreshingly fun competitive multiplayer experience that you have to play to believe. It ain’t just dodgeball, it’s dodgeBRAWL. Since we first found that magic in the game, we haven’t been able to stop playing and we can’t wait to share that experience with some of you during this weekend’s first closed beta.”
Knockout City will provide access to 3v3, 4v4 and free-for-all quick matches across Street Play, competitively ranked games in League Play or via a hosted experience in a Private Match; the fight to take down rival Crews takes many forms. No matter what you play, you will start every match on a level playing field, needing to rely on skill to dominate the competition. A solid Crew is also the difference between dishing out punishment and taking it.
It should all be pretty easy to pick up and play, but as with all great things it is practice which is key to mastering positioning, timing and teamwork for dodgeBRAWL dominance. But of course there’s more to it than that and once you are pulling off the moves witout consideration, will then be able to start spending time making sure you look good doing so – Knockout City’s robust customization options cover appearance, gear, attitude, body type and hairstyle, right up to a custom glider, KO effects and taunts. It’s not just about the player but also their Crew, and with up to 32 friends across platforms, players can customize their Crew name, logo, banner and even pick a custom Crew vehicle to ride into battle.
“We’re honored to be working with Velan Studios on their first-ever EA Originals release,” said Steve Pointon, SVP 3rd Party Content & Development at Electronic Arts. “Composed of some of the greatest minds in the industry, the team’s work on Knockout City truly showcases their vast expertise and talent. We’re very excited for everyone to play it and feel what makes this game a high-energy and innovative experience.”
We’ll be sure to remind you when that May 21st release of Knockout City on Xbox One, Series X|S, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch and PC rolls into play. You should be finding a free trial available on that day too, whilst of course that PC beta will be able to give a little insight prior to the big day.
At launch, Knockout City will deliver a full multiplayer package with five multiplayer maps, one interactive environment where players and their Crew can practice, six ball types, full character customization, cross-play, cross-progression, Street Play with five starting playlists, League Play, Private Match, and the complete Street Rank Progression with hundreds of cosmetic items. Beyond this, Knockout City will also bring a ton of new content through seasons at no additional charge, where each season can include new maps, modes, balls, limited time events and more.
Players who choose to purchase the full game for $19.99 during the free trial will be able to transfer all their progress, plus receive additional cosmetic rewards, as they continue to brawl in Knockout City. For those who purchase after the free trial, they’ll still be able to transfer all their progress over.
Give the announcement trailer for Knockout City a little watch and let us know your thoughts. It certainly promises to be an altogether different affair to those other dodgeball titles currently available – Stikbold!, Disco Dodgeball or Super Dodgeball Beats.
