2h ago
THQ Nordic Japan and TATSUJIN Co., Ltd. released the physical versions of "TATSUJIN EXTREME" for PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2 on July 30, 2026. The digital versions for PS5, Switch 2, Steam, and Xbox Series X|S began rolling out from 10:00 PM JST the same day. The game is a completely new title inheriting the lineage of Toaplan's 1988 arcade shooter "TATSUJIN" and its sequel "Tatsujin Oh." It uses 3D graphics, newly composed music by series composer Masatoshi Yuge, and a story presented through in-game comics. Players use five weapon types including returning weapons Power Shot, Tatsujin Beam, and Thunder Laser, plus new additions Homing Shot and Starmine Shot. The standard physical edition costs 4,950 yen on PS5 and 5,940 yen on Switch 2. A PREMIUM BOX edition is also available, priced at 19,800 yen for PS5 and 20,790 yen for Switch 2, containing a 2-disc gold soundtrack with 78 tracks, a metal ship figure, a 112-page art book, a 128-page comic, and a special box. Both editions include DLC with BGM and ship skins from "TATSUJIN," "Tatsujin Oh," and "BATSUGUN." A free demo is available across all platforms, featuring four modes: TUTORIAL, HEART STARTER, STORY, and TEAM. A follow-and-repost campaign on the official X account runs until August 6, 2026, giving away 10 non-sale Pipiru Alien plushies.
4d ago
The week of July 27 to August 2, 2026, sees a slate of major releases across platforms. Leading the lineup is 'Halo: Campaign Evolved', a Unreal Engine 5 remake of the original 2001 campaign, launching July 29 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S at 7,900 yen. It includes 10 original missions plus three new ones, 4-player online co-op with cross-play, and a Campaign Remix mode with randomized modifiers. Early reviews are positive, with Metascores of 81 on PS5 and 84 on Xbox Series X as of July 26, though the lack of competitive multiplayer drew some criticism. Also releasing July 30 is 'Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Nintendo Switch 2 Edition', an enhanced version for the new console. The same day sees the extraction shooter 'Mistfall Hunter' on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, along with 'BLUE REFLECTION Quartet: The Miracle of the Girls' (7,480 yen), 'Culdcept the First', 'Volcano Princess', 'TATSUJIN EXTREME', and 'Honoboshi no Niwa'. On July 31, dark fantasy action RPG 'The Relic: First Guardian' arrives on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. The week's releases span genres from FPS and RPG to puzzle and simulation, with several titles also available on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2.
Jul 22
THQ Nordic Japan and TATSUJIN Co., Ltd. released a demo for TATSUJIN EXTREME on July 22, 2026, across PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. The full game is scheduled for release on July 30. TATSUJIN EXTREME is a completely new entry in the TATSUJIN series, which originated as an arcade vertical-scrolling shooter from Toaplan in the 1980s. The demo includes four modes: TUTORIAL for learning basic controls, HEART STARTER which allows players to continue without game over, STORY which begins with a prologue comic by Junya Inoue, and TEAM for two-player cooperative play. In STORY and TEAM, players can experience the first stage, SUCCESSION. The demo does not support save functionality or online rankings. Alongside the demo, a making-of PV showing development footage and in-game screens set to the game's music was released on the TATSUJIN Official Channel. An in-person trial event and autograph session by Junya Inoue are scheduled for August 2 at BEEP Akihabara store in Tokyo.
Jun 27
Bandai Namco Entertainment released a paid downloadable content collaboration pack for Taiko no Tatsujin: Don Don Festival on June 25, themed around the anime adaptation of Nagano's manga Chiikawa. The pack makes the song "Hitorigotsu ~Band Ver.~" playable and includes limited in-game items such as Chiikawa characters' puchi characters, collaboration name plates, and titles. The game is available on Nintendo Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Alongside the DLC, a free update added the new song "Shanimuni Hanabi" as the second installment of the Taiko no Tatsujin 25th anniversary commemorative song project, a four-part plan to release new songs fulfilling Don-chan's dream of becoming a music producer. The song is described as conveying passion for immersing oneself in activities like Taiko no Tatsujin to overcome real-world hardships.