US: Digital-only Punisher arrives next week

Another notch on the digital-only bedpost of console gaming arrives next week with the North American release of Zen Studios’ The Punisher: No Mercy.

Based on the gritty Marvel license of the same name, The Punisher is a PlayStation Network exclusive title and will cost $9.99 in the US. European release dates and pricing are yet to be revealed.

Built using Epic’s Unreal Engine 3, the single and multiplayer game is a rare example of a mainstream genre title, which in this instance also sports a credible licence, bypassing retail and trying the digital-only route.

Our team has been working long hours to deliver a first-person shooter experience that will live up to the Punisher name,” ZEN MD Zsolt Kigyossy stated.

With awesome characters, a customizable system, and fast-paced multiplayer action, No Mercy is breaking ground in the digital space. For comic and shooter fans alike, this is a must-have game for the summer.”

Warner tried a similar thing with its digital-only release of Watchmen – a self-labelled ‘experiment’ that seemingly didn’t go quite to plan.