Nintendo - Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed Echo Edition is available today on Switch

By Mulder, 19 october 2023

Ghostbusters fans now have the chance to immerse themselves in the supernatural world of Ghostbusters with the game Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed - Echo Edition. Developed by IllFonic, specialists in asymmetrical multiplayer games, this 4vs1 hunting and haunting game is now available on Nintendo Switch at the recommended retail price of €19.99. What's more, a physical edition will be launched later this year thanks to IllFonic partner Nightawk Interactive. This Nintendo Switch release will allow players to join the action, whether as ghost hunters or ghosts, and to compete or ally with players on other platforms, including the Epic Games Store, PlayStation, and Xbox.

"We can't wait to release Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed on all gaming platforms," said Charles Brungardt, CEO and co-founder of IllFonic. "I'm a longtime Ghostbusters fan, and IllFonic has worked hard to bring the ability to hunt and haunt to fans of the franchise with the Ecto Edition. We continue to develop the game's story, adding new maps and new types of ghosts, offering an ever more captivating experience."

What the Ecto Edition includes:
- Story expansion: Exciting new acts are added to Spirits Unleashed, offering players more narrative content. The occupants of the Firehouse will face a formidable new adversary, while new conversations will deepen the plot.
- New ghost types: The Ecto Edition introduces the Overlord ghost type, a relentless spectral adversary with terrifying abilities. Players will need to use their wits to capture these powerful ghosts.
- New maps: Two new maps, Petey's Pirate Den and Galway Station, offer a variety of environments for hunters and ghosts.
- Ghost rewards, characters and Gear Loadouts: Players will have access to new rewards, customization options for their characters, and equipment upgrades.
- New cosmetics and Added Tenure Level: For those who like to personalize their appearance and progress in the game, new cosmetic options are available, as well as an addition to the longevity level system.
- UX, UI, gameplay improvements and much more: The Ecto Edition brings a host of enhancements for an even smoother, more immersive gaming experience. The development team has worked hard to adapt the game to the Nintendo Switch, delivering a gameplay experience at a dynamic resolution ranging from 720p in portable mode to 1080p in stationary mode, at 30 frames per second, in line with industry standards for the console.

In Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed, players have the chance to join Ray Stantz and Winston Zeddemore in battling supernatural forces as ghost hunters or wreaking havoc as ghosts. This asymmetrical hide-and-seek game features a 4vs1 mode, where players can team up as members of a new Ghostbusters team or embody a mischievous ghost. The game can be played not only solo, but also cooperatively with up to four friends, in both online and bot-assisted offline modes. As players progress, the story unfolds through cinematic sequences, offering an immersive and captivating experience.

Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed includes all the franchise's iconic equipment, from Proton packs to PKE meters and ghost traps, as well as iconic locations such as the Ghostbusters barracks and Ray's Occult bookshop. What's more, players will have the pleasure of hearing the voices of the films' original actors, reprising their roles as Ray Stantz and Winston Zeddemore, in addition to the addition of new characters.

As ghosts, players have a variety of skills, including possession of objects, use of slime, and more, to wreak havoc in different public places. Players can choose from five types of ghost, each with unique abilities, and they can command ectoplasm-laden minions to assist them. The aim is to escape the ghost hunters while scaring the citizens until they flee in fear. Ghosts can play tricks on ghost hunters, while hiding their weak points to reappear safely.

As ghost hunters, players are tasked with capturing ghosts haunting unique locations using their cunning equipment and skills. They must detect the P.K.E. meter loopholes, which serve as apparition points for the ghosts, and capture them with their Proton packs before they bring their haunting to fruition. Players can progress by unlocking cosmetics and upgrades for ghost hunters and ghosts, enriching their gaming experience.

Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed offers a variety of locations to explore, from a haunted museum to a winter cottage, a moored boat, a multi-level prison and a working brewery. Players can complete challenges, customize their characters and ghosts, and discover resources to unlock new bonuses. In addition, a narrative plot unfolds throughout the game, encouraging players to follow clues and satisfy the needs of Ray Stantz and Winston Zeddemore to access exciting cinematics.

Founded in 2007, IllFonic is an independent video game developer with studios in Lakewood, Colorado; Tacoma, Washington; and Austin, Texas. The team is made up of veterans of the video game, music and technology industries, who push the boundaries of game creation and commercialization. Their titles and collaborations include games such as Predator: Hunting Grounds, Friday the 13th: The Game, Star Citizen, and many more. 

Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed - Ecto Edition is a thrilling gaming experience for fans of the Ghostbusters franchise, as well as newcomers to the supernatural universe. With exciting additions, iconic characters and haunted locations to explore, this game offers a captivating immersive experience. So, whether you want to hunt ghosts or haunt as a ghost, Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed is ready to deliver thrills and chills.

(Source: press release)