Wait, So Atlus Is Publishing SNK Games Now?

SNK sent Metal Slug XX, a Metal Slug 7 revision for PSP, to stores in Japan a few weeks ago. A North American release hasn’t been announced, but we discovered an ESRB listing for Metal Slug XX back in October.

Now, there’s another ESRB rating that lists Atlus USA as the publisher. Aside from downloadable games, Ignition used to publish all of SNK’s stuff outside of Japan. Recently, Ignition hasn’t said much about their relationship with SNK or the domestic release of Samurai Shodown: Edge of Destiny which was announced at E3 ‘09.

This news comes two weeks after we discovered a rating for Samurai Shodown Sen in Australia that lists SNK, not Ignition, as the publisher. Perhaps, that partnership has fizzled and SNK is looking for support from other companies like Atlus USA to bring their games to retailers outside of Japan.