After 38 years of silence, one of the most beloved Japanese arcade shoot ’em up series is finally back. Truxton Extreme — known in Japan as TATSUJIN EXTREME — launched today, 30 July 2026, on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam and GOG. If the name Truxton rings a bell from your Mega Drive days or Singapore arcade visits in the late 1980s, that instinct is correct: this is the real deal, made by the original creator.
Thirty-Eight Years Is a Long Time to Wait for a Sequel
The original Truxton (TATSUJIN) dropped in Japanese arcades in 1988, published by Toaplan — the legendary Osaka studio behind DoDonPachi, Batsugun, and Zero Wing. It was a brutal vertical shooter with tight movement, weapon upgrades, and that unmistakable Toaplan DNA. Toaplan closed in 1994, and the series went dark.
Masahiro Yuge, one of Toaplan’s co-founders and the creative force behind the original Truxton, eventually founded a new studio also named Tatsujin. Partnering with Swedish publisher Clear River Games, he has spent years building what Truxton Extreme became: a full modern evolution of the franchise, fully rendered in 3D while staying true to the vertical-scrolling shmup roots that made the series iconic.
What’s New in Truxton Extreme
This isn’t just a remaster — it’s a ground-up reimagining. The visuals jump to full 3D polygons, widescreen play field, and smooth performance (the Nintendo Life review noted zero performance issues on Switch 2 in both docked and handheld modes). The classic weapon roster — Tatsujin Beam, Thunder Laser, Homing Shot, Star-Mine Shot — returns alongside a new EX bar mechanic that lets you charge up and unleash supercharged shots when things get hairy.
Manga artist Junya Inoue (known for Btooom! and his work on DoDonPachi and Batsugun) illustrates a branching, comic-book-style story spanning 18 chapters. Players choose from three TATSUJIN pilots — Ash, Bergamot, and Cyrilla — each with their own motivations and arc within the narrative.
Modes for Every Kind of Player
Whether you want the full narrative experience or a pure arcade endurance run, Truxton Extreme has a mode for it:
- Story — 18 chapters with comic-panel cutscenes, escalating enemy waves, and boss encounters
- Arcade — traditional sequential progression with no hand-holding
- Heart Starter — a beginner-friendly difficulty setting that actually lets newcomers enjoy the series for the first time
- Team — local 2-player co-op (a first for the series) with shared resources
- Arena — 2-minute score-attack for bragging rights
- Pipiruville — a village-building collection mode for cosmetics
Eight difficulty settings across the board mean veterans can recreate the punishing quarter-eating arcade feel, while curious newcomers can actually finish the game.
Pricing and Where to Get It
Digital pricing is set at US$24.99 for the standard edition and US$29.99 for the Deluxe digital edition. Physical copies are priced at US$39.99 (PS5 / Xbox Series) and US$49.99 (Switch 2). For Singapore players, the game is available now on the PlayStation Store and Nintendo eShop — check your regional storefront for local pricing. Physical editions should be available through major game retailers and electronics chains.
Early reviews have been strong: Nintendo Life awarded it a 9/10, calling it “a thrilling return for a classic shoot-’em-up series” that “sets a new benchmark for how to bring back cult series of the genre into the current age.” High praise for any comeback, let alone one 38 years in the making.
For Singapore shmup fans — and there are more of us than people expect — Truxton Extreme is the biggest genre release in years. Check out other retro gaming coverage and game news on GameTrader.SG.