Kirby Support Studio Vanpool Closes

Kirby support studio Vanpool has closed down according to a new notice that has appeared on its website. 

Nintendo of America on Twitter Hungry for adventure? #Kirby and the Forgotten Land is almost here!Digest what's in store for the tough puff in this latest trailer. A free demo of the game is also now available on #NintendoSwitch #eShop!https://t.co/DSoPnyS3if pic.twitter.com/1JqcPzcw0P— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) March 8, 2022 Nintendo of America Twitter

When put through Google Translate, the notice reads:

"We have continued to develop games thanks to your kindness, but we have decided to dissolve due to various circumstances. We would like to express our sincere gratitude for your patronage and apologize for any inconvenience caused."

Vanpool has mainly worked on Nintendo titles, but the first two titles that they worked on were PlayStation 2 games. Recently, Vanpool helped to develop four Kirby games:

• Super Kirby Clash (2019)
• Kirby Fighters 2 (2020)
• Kirby and the Forgotten Land (2022)
• Kirby's Return To Dream Land Deluxe (2023)

This likely comes as a shock to fans of the Kirby franchise, especially given as the last game in Vanpool's portfolio was released only this year. It's currently unclear as to whether the team has fully been disbanded or if they've simply been absorbed into the larger corporate entity known as Nintendo, but it's the end of an era for a certain amount of fans.