Fast food and gaming toys are a common promotional strategy. We saw it last month with McDonald's when it brought back Pokémon Happy Meal toys, which admittedly had some problems. Having said that, it's not common to see an indie game getting that same treatment, but that's exactly what Arby's is doing for Shovel Knight.
Available until May 31st, select Arby's restaurants will be offering Shovel Knight "launcher tokens" with kids meals. That covers seven notable characters, including The Enchantress, Black Knight and Specter Knight.
Every one also comes with their own DLC code, which can be redeemed on Switch and Steam. As a side note, it's worth noting that Plague Knight has been renamed to "Doctor Knight" here. While we can't possibly imagine why they've done this, we'd like to congratulate him a job well done on attaining that PhD.
Arby's Shovel Knight Launcher Tokens - What They Unlock In-Game
Shovel Knight Launcher Token: "Of all heroes, none shone brighter than Meat Meat and Shield Meat!” Use this meaty cheat to change the colorful cast of Shovel Knight’s names to something more….delectable! Works with all games in Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove!
Shield Knight Launcher Token: Shield Knight SandwichShovel Knight’s dream now features a falling sandwich instead of his beloved Shield Knight. Catch it, and chow down! Works in Shovel of Hope.
The Enchantress Launcher Token: Enemy SwapMake the Enchantress’ army appetizing! This cheat swaps out the baneful baddies with mouthwatering menu items! Works with all games in Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove!
Black Knight Launcher Token: Sandwich Fairy FriendA friendly Arby’s sandwich fairy (complete with cheese wings!) will accompany your character throughout their journey. Works with all games in Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove.
King Knight Launcher Token: Arby's Crow ArmorKing Knight’s regal crown is replaced by an even more regal Arby’s cowboy hat logo. Works in King of Cards.
Specter Knight Launcher Token: Food SwapRefill your health in style! Platters are replaced by piping hot trays of Arby’s delights, and magic is replaced by milkshakes. Works with all games in Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove.
"Doctor" Knight (Plague Knight) Launcher Token: Hold Up FoodYour character will proudly present a random Arby’s menu item – just hold Down on the D-Pad. Works with any character in Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove.
Thanks to Ryan for the tip!
Comments 59
Doctor Knight huh? What's your major?
I will go to Arby’s until I get them all!!!
Epidemiologist Knight!
Having to order a kid's meal at Arbys. That's a hard pass right there. Same old "videogames are for kids" marketing nonsense.
So what for those of us who don't have an Arby's within range? Or even within the same country? Guess we're screwed.
This is DLC where it isn't a big deal from what it seems but I hate when they do this stuff.
I saw this video last night from YCG and I think this is great. I doubt many little kids know about shovel knight like they would with pokemon or mario but it's a great way to introduce SK to My kids. I will definitely be visiting arbys this week.
Doctor Knight? Are they a "real" doctor or just a PhD? 😝
I used to work right next to an Arby's. After eating there almost daily for months, I can't bare the thought of ever eating there again. (Same goes for Subway) But man, I do kinda want that King Knight with the dumb Arby's hat for the novelty.
@doctorhino I'm as critical of consumerism, capitalism, and gaming marketing as the next guy, but come on - this is just a fun little promo.
Did he attend the same university as Doctor Doom?
Plague Knight was based on the plague doctor, so the name change makes sense (other than the whole thinking of death and disease while dining thing).
@Yosher I think that these aren’t actually DLC codes, but cheat codes. I haven’t been able to try the codes I found yet, but it doesn’t look like you’ll be getting screwed.
I’m assuming it’s COVID related and the word “plague” is currently taboo. Hence the quotes.
I’m not sure if this works on EU copies but...
A&RBYEN (burger beetles and drink propeller rats)
A&RBYSK (“shovel” and “knight” text replaced with “burger”
A&RBSHK (Shield Knight replaced with a burger in dreams)
A&RBPLK (Arby’s food taunts)
A&RBYBL (burger fairy)
A&RBSPK (Arby’s health items)
A&RBYKK (Arby’s hat King Knight)
Plague Knight confirmed for Dr Mario World
I see shovel knight. I get happy.
It’s not a new game. I’m sad.
Never ate at arby's before but their video game/anime cardboard art is beautiful
PhD? Doctor Knight has an MD, surely.
@rjejr You have that backwards. There are doctors, and then there are physicians.
@kab030 Oh in that case, yeah, this is a good deal!
Calling him "Doctor Knight" is peak Saturday morning cartoon editing, and I love it. Right up there with turning guns to lasers and finding every way to not say 'die' or 'kill'.
@aunaste So can this really be called DLC, since you don't need to redeem these codes in the eShop/Steam's Store page? This advertisement is a bit misleading.
@Noid I mean I'm sure there are adults/teenagers who order a value meal who would want one. Just not sure I see the value in limiting it to kids meals.
@Northwind Nice! I wonder if these codes work on PS/3DS/Wii U/Xbox as well, and they're just not advertising it as such.
Pandemic Knight is cool!
At what point is an indie game no longer indie?
@aunaste As far as I can tell the codes are acknowledged by the EU release, but not used.
The Arby's hat looks like a dong
Shovel Knight before he got the reboot.
I see plague knight finally graduated from Hollywood upstairs medical college
@Dr_Corndog Yeah, trying to make a sarcastic Dr. Biden joke but admittedly I didn't spend much time on it. 🤷♂️
l know this seems stupid of me, but l never liked Arby's but now I will go there because of this.
Arby's ugh! The place you go if you want to puke something up or crap something out. Oh and yeah that doctor knight thing is totally a covid thing. Just like how the corona beer company wants to quit calling their beer a name that sounds like coronavirus. More whiny bullcrap from easily offended people.
Now he sounds like Doctor Princess, who is neither doctor nor princess.
He's the knight formerly known as plague!
@Yosher Why not be happy for others?
I have not played this game yet just haven't gotten around to it.
I just went to Arby’s in my town and they wouldn’t sell them to me because they had to get rid of the old toys first. I was nice about it and said I’d check back.
My close Arby’s just closed this year. Now I have to find another one and hope it’s still open.
Oh okay. That's an interesting promotion deal.
@rjejr @Dr_Corndog
As NL’s resident scientist girl- love this banter...
Never bothers me when the, “ REAL doctors are MDs” Thing comes up- just shows said interlocitutor is unaware of how barbers, butchers, and questionable potion makers took on the scholastic title and Hippocrates oath as a sort of seal of quality.
Now many physicians take no ethical oath hippocratic or other- in a time when more and more engineers do, odd...
It kills me how Plague Knight's pseudonym is the only name in quotation marks.
Only once in my life have I heard of somebody wanting to go to an Arby’s. It was almost twenty years ago, when I was in high school. I’ll never forget that! 😂 They opened one down the street from my house. Lasted a couple of years.
WTF is an arby. Is out of USA this?
@Oppyz666
Arby's are an American fast food sandwich restaurant chain that are known for their clever promotional marketing featuring cardboard art made from their own food packaging.
For example, their life-size cardboard sculpture of Nightmare from the Soul Calibur series.
Yo this promotion is awesome and hilarious! When it comes to best promo stuff, Arby's and Wendy's really do know what's up lmao 🤣
@KillerBOB
I ran a machine-learning fit at the lab...
Your assertion is confirmed. We should coauthor sometime .
-and 0:32 in the video... oh my!
BUT wait no meat catching in 3D (3ds)!?!
~~~ Science girl is scandalized
@RupeeClock Calling them a "fast food sandwich restaurant chain" is misleading, as they don't sell many entrees other than roast beef sandwiches, something I don't care for. They're a very specialized chain that isn't to everyone's tastes.
@BulbasaurusRex
Eh, I was just going by the description on the Wikipedia entry anyway. We don't have Arby's restaurants in the UK.
Thank god for Dead Cells and its “vegan diet” option
Plague knight should’ve been the one to change names.
This sounds less like DLC and more like cheat codes. That's definitely what it SHOULD be, anyway...
Dr. Jill Knight
Let's see Shovel Knight do a collab with Mc Donald's, next.
I'm shovelin' it.
(I can't approve)
@RupeeClock That looks horrific and amazing, all at the same time.
NINJA APPROVED
@Dr_G_Lemaitre You have an impressive lexicon!
NINJA APPROVED
Damn straight it's Doctor Knight. I didn't to go to ***** medical school for ten years to be called Mr Knight.
@BloodNinja
Awe- who am I that the fierce shinobi of my shogun master would visit such gracious words upon me?!
Science girl is always ready to team with BloodNinja if you need me. You ninja-ing stuff while I apply a systematic line of repeatable analysis. It’s better than Mario and Yoshi! ...though i imagine you...” work alone” (sigh) so from behind my adorbs big bangs* i wait longingly doing important looking things in my lab as my every heart beat is for our next rendezvous... Fly like a dragon Bloodninja~~
Eek no refs! What kind if scientist am I?
I know I’ll use a foot not to add cred.
*Foot note:
If you liked me here dearNinja, i was a bit more scientific though not as loquacious on “Anniversary: Nintendo Switch...” explaining a hypothesis relating to morphology in human cases.
@matdub
Nice! I don’t care about it usually. Long story but I put a swindler in his place who thought i was just a cute girl. Made all the time in school worth it.
Oh um. That and helping on a cancer project too of course. Oopsie.
My hubris is showing. (Sad yoshi sounds)
@Dr_G_Lemaitre You tell me their weak point, I hit their weak point. I think I translated that. Maybe? I dunno. Either way:
NINJA APPROVED
@Dr_G_Lemaitre Go for it. Hubris is fun.
@KayFiOS Nope, the codes don't work on the Wii U version.
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