Kirby support studio Vanpool has closed

Kirby support studio Vanpool has closed its doors.

The Tokyo-based studio was dissolved on May 31, according to a notice on its website.

“We have continued to develop games thanks to everyone’s kindness, but due to various circumstances, we have decided to disband,” it reads (via Google Translate).

“We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for the patronage we have received from all of you, and apologize for any inconvenience caused.”

Vanpool was established in 1999. Apart from its first two games, the PS2 titles Endonesia and Coloball, and one mobile game, it developed games exclusively for Nintendo consoles including DS, Wii, 3DS and Switch.

It developed all three games in the Nintendo-published Dillon series, which starred an armadillo ranger tasked with protecting villages from walking rock-like monsters.

Most recently it co-developed four Kirby games with HAL Laboratory – Super Kirby Clash, Kirby Fighters 2, Kirby and the Forgotten Land and Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe.

The latter, a Switch remake of 2011’s Wii game Kirby’s Return to Dream Land, was released in February.

Further reading

Review: Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe is another excellent Nintendo remaster

HAL Labs's remaster offers enough content to keep both newcomers and veterans busy for a while

“Whether you’ve played the Wii version or not, this remaster offers enough content to keep both newcomers and veterans busy for a while,” VGC said in its review of the game.

“As a Kirby game it’s fairly typical and doesn’t do anything particularly revolutionary, but what it does offer is strong, entertaining platforming.”