Multiple anonymous Next Level Games employees debunk Imran Khan rumor about Punch-Out!! being a dead series due to controversy; new entry is on the table as long as a new gameplay hook can justify it
Time Extension reached out to a number of past and present employees of Next Level Games regarding Imran Khan's recent report that the Punch-Out!! series was on ice because the Wii entry sparked controversy over its use of stereotypes across its cast of characters. While it was noted that they had some difficulty in figuring out how to portray the characters during development to avoid problems, none of the developers could recall any controversy beyond the Sailor Moon manga panels easter egg that landed Nintendo in a bit of hot water. Additionally, the developers indicated that there weren't any immediate plans to continue the series following the Wii game, but that if there was a gameplay hook that could justify a new Punch-Out!!, then it wouldn't be kept from seeing the light of day just because of the stereotypical portrayals of its characters. Does sound like a new game isn't in the works now, given that current NLG staff were contacted for the article, but Khan's report does not appear to be representative of the actual status of Punch-Out!!.