SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake sets October release date for PS5, Xbox Series X|S

SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake, the action adventure hit from developer Purple Lamp and publisher THQ Nordic, will officially launch onto Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 on October 16th, 2023, according to a new trailer.

SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake originally launched last January, and that version is available now on PC, Nintendo Switch, and last-gen PlayStation or Xbox consoles. You can read our full review of it ahead of the new ports, and watch today’s next-gen announcement trailer on the THQ Nordic YouTube channel:

SpongeBob SquarePants has remained a highly beloved and bankable IP, from kart games to Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2, where SpongeBob himself and the new addition Squidward have recently gotten some promising character spotlight trailers.

The franchise has expanded into totally different mediums, cemented its position in the zeitgeist with iconic memes, and released a variety of games. But The Cosmic Shake aimed to be the ultimate love letter, and fan responses have largely agreed it is.

The concept of portals and Wishworlds opened the door to plenty of fan service, almost akin to the growing number of multiverses in pop culture. However, its gameplay loop doesn’t necessarily rely on nostalgia bait alone.

It’s a surprise that next-gen versions of SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake took so long to release, but they’ll certainly thrive. The visuals of the game might harken back to the early years when SpongeBob SquarePants first aired, but they’re still creative, vibrant, and polished. The game should look great with next-gen tech.

A new post on the official Steam page adds that anyone who already owns the game will get a free Gen 9 update. This really reinforces how much the devs love the IP and fans, and why The Cosmic Shake never comes off as a simple cash grab. The update will also include a new photo mode, new costumes, and a couple of bug fixes.

You can read more about SpongeBob SquarePants games, Purple Lamp, and other Nickelodeon-based titles by following our news section.