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TATSUJIN EXTREME
TATSUJIN EXTREME is out on PS5, Nintendo Switch 2, PC via Steam, and Xbox Series X|S. On October 8, 2026, TATSUJIN Co., Ltd. released a story introduction video ahead of the original arcade TATSUJIN's 38th anniversary on October 13.
Synthesized from 6
Yomimono stories · updated
6d ago
TATSUJIN EXTREME arrived on July 30, 2026 as a completely new entry in the TATSUJIN series, which began as Toaplan's 1988 arcade vertical-scrolling shooter. THQ Nordic Japan and TATSUJIN Co., Ltd. handled the release. Physical versions came to PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2, with digital versions on PS5, Switch 2, Steam, and Xbox Series X|S. The game uses 3D graphics, new music by series composer Masatoshi Yuge, and a comic-format story. Five weapon types are available, including returning weapons Power Shot, Tatsujin Beam, and Thunder Laser, plus Homing Shot and Starmine Shot. The standard physical edition costs 4,950 yen on PS5 and 5,940 yen on Switch 2, and a PREMIUM BOX edition costs 19,800 yen on PS5 and 20,790 yen on Switch 2.
A free demo preceded the launch, released July 22 across PS5, Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam. It offered four modes: TUTORIAL, HEART STARTER, STORY, and TEAM. HEART STARTER lets players continue without a game over. The STORY mode opens with a prologue comic by Junya Inoue. The demo does not support saving or online rankings.
Reviews arrived in August. The PS5 version holds a Metascore of 76 and the Nintendo Switch 2 version 78. Critics praised the classic design, visuals, and soundtrack, and noted high difficulty and story pacing issues. An interview published August 7 with Denfaminicogamer covered the collaboration between Masatoshi Yuge, creator of TATSUJIN, and Takayuki Saito, designer of the Raiden Fighters series, who joined TATSUJIN Inc. in 2021.
On October 8, TATSUJIN Co., Ltd. released a story introduction video using comic-format panels with illustrations by Junya Inoue, formerly of Toaplan, and newly recorded narration. The timing precedes the 38th anniversary of the original arcade TATSUJIN, which began operation on October 13, 1988. The download version for PS5 and Switch 2, DLC included, is discounted 20 percent from 4,950 yen to 3,960 yen through October 21. The package bundles the main game plus BGM from TATSUJIN, Tatsujin Ou, and BATSUGUN, each with a player ship skin.
Key facts
- Release date
- July 30, 2026 ↗
- Platforms
- PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, PC via Steam, Xbox Series X|S ↗
- Metascore
- 76 on PS5, 78 on Nintendo Switch 2 ↗
- Story illustrations
- Junya Inoue, formerly of Toaplan ↗
- Composer
- Masatoshi Yuge ↗
- Weapon types
- Power Shot, Tatsujin Beam, Thunder Laser, Homing Shot, Starmine Shot ↗
- Demo modes
- TUTORIAL, HEART STARTER, STORY, TEAM ↗
- Standard physical edition price
- 4,950 yen on PS5, 5,940 yen on Switch 2 ↗
- Original arcade TATSUJIN anniversary
- 38th anniversary on October 13, 2026 ↗
- Download discount
- 20 percent off, 4,950 yen to 3,960 yen, through October 21 ↗
Timeline
Synthesized by Yomimono from the cited Yomimono stories below, each itself
sourced, then editorially reviewed. Every
fact links the story it came from.
Facts
- Release
- game · 2026 · 2026-10-08
- Release
- game · 2026-07-30 · 2026-07-30
- Release
- game · upcoming · 2026-08-07
- Release
- game · week of July 27 to August 2, 2026 · Japan and North America · 2026-07-26
- Release
- game · 2026-07-22 · global · 2026-07-22
- Announced
- new story introduction video · 2026-10-08
- Noted
- Metascore of 76 on PS5 and 78 on Nintendo Switch 2 · 2026-08-10
- Noted
- first completely new entry in the TATSUJIN series in 38 years · 2026-07-30
- Noted
- inherits lineage of TATSUJIN · 2026-07-30
- Noted
- uses 3D graphics · 2026-07-30
- Noted
- has newly composed music by Masatoshi Yuge · 2026-07-30
- Noted
- has a story presented through in-game comics · 2026-07-30
- Noted
- has five weapon types · 2026-07-30
- Noted
- standard physical edition costs 4,950 yen on PS5 and 5,940 yen on Switch 2 · 2026-07-30
- Noted
- PREMIUM BOX edition available · 2026-07-30
- Noted
- includes DLC with BGM and ship skins from TATSUJIN, Tatsujin Oh, and BATSUGUN · 2026-07-30
- Noted
- free demo available · 2026-07-30
- Noted
- follow-and-repost campaign · 2026-07-30
Connections
Structured graph also available as JSON at /public/entities/tatsujin-extreme.
CC BY 4.0.
All coverage
Oct 8
TATSUJIN Co., Ltd. released a story introduction video for the shooter TATSUJIN EXTREME on October 8, 2026, timed to the imminent 38th anniversary of the original arcade TATSUJIN, which began operation on October 13, 1988. The video presents the game's narrative through comic-format panels, with illustrations by manga artist Junya Inoue, formerly of Toaplan, and newly recorded narration. TATSUJIN EXTREME arrived in 2026 and carries the shooting systems of earlier entries alongside 3D graphics, music, and a comic-style story presentation. The download version of TATSUJIN EXTREME (DLC included) for PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2 is discounted 20 percent for the first time since release, from 4,950 yen to 3,960 yen, through October 21. The package bundles the main game plus BGM from TATSUJIN, Tatsujin Ou, and BATSUGUN, each with a player ship skin. A Steam sale and a follow-and-repost campaign for a Pipiru Alien plushie also run.
Aug 10
TATSUJIN EXTREME, a vertical-scrolling shooter released on July 30, 2026, for PC (Steam), PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2, has earned a Metascore of 76 on PS5 and 78 on Nintendo Switch 2. Critics praise the classic design, visuals, and soundtrack, while noting high difficulty and story pacing issues.
Aug 7
Masatoshi Yuge, creator of TATSUJIN, and Takayuki Saito, designer of the Raiden Fighters series, have joined forces at TATSUJIN Inc. for the new game TATSUJIN EXTREME. In an interview with Denfaminicogamer, the two veterans discussed their first collaboration and their decades-long careers in vertical shooters.
Jul 30
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.
Jul 26
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.