Salamander III Bug Fix for 128-Loop Clear Draws Surprise and Praise
Konami Digital Entertainment released update Version 1.004 for Gradius Origin Collection on August 3, 2026, fixing a bug in the newly developed Salamander III that occurred after players cleared 128 or more loops. The bug reset the maximum selectable loop count in stage select when returning to the title menu. Because Salamander III increases difficulty with each loop, the 128-loop threshold drew surprise and praise on social media, with comments such as "Is there anyone who can play over 128 loops?!" and "In other words, someone actually did it!" The collection, released August 7, 2025, for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam, includes seven titles and 18 versions, featuring arcade entries like Gradius, Salamander, and Gradius II, plus the new Salamander III developed by M2. The update also includes other fixes detailed on the official site. Whether the bug was discovered through actual play has not been officially announced, but the feat sparked respect for whoever found it.