Caladrius2/Dark Element Launches This Winter, 13 Years After Series Debut
The announcement marks the first completely new Caladrius title in 13 years, and the simultaneous Steam release signals a broader platform push beyond the console versions, potentially expanding the series' reach to a wider PC audience.
Key Facts
- Caladrius2/Dark Element is scheduled for release in winter 2026 for PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam.
- The game is a completely new entry in the Caladrius series, released 13 years after the original title first appeared.
- The standard package version costs 5,980 yen, the special edition costs 11,800 yen, and the download version costs 4,980 yen, all excluding tax.
- The Steam version will be published by H2 INTERACTIVE.
- The game is rated CERO D, for ages 17 and up.
Reporting from 2 sources: 4Gamer.net, Automaton.
Moss announced on August 7, 2026, that the 2D bullet hell shooter Caladrius2/Dark Element will launch this winter for PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam. The game is a completely new entry in the Caladrius series, arriving 13 years after the original title first appeared. Pricing is set at 5,980 yen for the standard package version, 11,800 yen for the special edition, and 4,980 yen for the download version, all excluding tax. The Steam version will be published by H2 INTERACTIVE. A teaser PV and official website were released alongside the announcement. The game is rated CERO D, for ages 17 and up. The previous entry, Caladrius BLAZE, holds a 'Very Positive' rating on Steam, with 88% of 335 user reviews positive at the time of writing. Game modes confirmed for the new title include Story Mode, Arcade Mode, and Gallery. The press release describes the aesthetics of taking a hit as reaching their peak, suggesting the series' signature Shame Break system, where clothing tears during battle, may return. Alex Martin, a protagonist from the prior game, appears as a playable character.
The series setting carries over from the original game, where civilization advanced through alchemy. King Graham of the Baradan Kingdom tricked the alchemist clan into surrendering forbidden spells and built weapons from human souls. The first game's roster paired Alex Martin, captain of the guardian knights, with Kay Percival, an alchemist, and Sister Maria. Each character carries multiple special attacks called Element Shoots, which consume a gauge and can be strengthened.
The Shame Break system extends beyond cut-ins: enemy pilots take damage alongside their units, and the protagonists themselves change appearance as they take hits. Basiscape composed the BGM. The series started on Xbox 360 in 2013, followed by the arcade version Caladrius AC and then Caladrius BLAZE, which added characters and scenarios across many platforms. Alex is described as the hero who stopped the rampage of a forbidden spell weapon two years before the new game's story. Character art comes from leading illustrators.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 2 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.