The creators of Streets of Rage are back with a brand new 16-bit-style space shooter — and it’s coming fast. Earthion, a new title from veteran studio Ancient and Bit Wave Games, officially blasts off on July 31 across all major gaming platforms, publishers confirmed Thursday.
Whether you’re a console loyalist or a PC purist, Earthion will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and Steam. Limited Run Games and Superdeluxe Games are handling the publishing duties. The physical editions are being split by region — and there’s already buzz building around the collector community.
Physical Editions Staggered by Region — and Still No Western Pre-Orders
Let’s clear this up: yes, there’s a physical version coming, but not everywhere at the same time. In Japan, pre-orders for the boxed editions have already opened for PS5 and Switch. Those versions hit shelves on October 30. Meanwhile, fans in the West will have to keep their eyes peeled — Limited Run Games is handling the distribution, but pre-orders aren’t up yet.
This has already caused a bit of frustration among collectors and long-time fans of Ancient’s retro catalog. And honestly, it’s not surprising. Limited Run’s titles often vanish in minutes once pre-orders begin. So far, no word on whether Xbox or PC will get boxed versions.
It wouldn’t be the first time Limited Run caused a scramble online.
Earthion: Old-School Grit with Modern Shine
You’d be forgiven for thinking Earthion was dug up from a long-lost Sega Genesis dev kit. That’s intentional. Developers built the entire experience using actual 16-bit hardware techniques. From the way the sprites animate to the chiptune soundtrack, it’s not just a game — it’s a love letter.
But it’s not just pixel art for the sake of nostalgia. Under the hood, Earthion delivers eight stages of high-stakes bullet hell, each one packed with visual effects and boss battles that look and feel like peak arcade-era chaos.
There’s strategy here too. Players collect resources from fallen enemies to upgrade their ship, adding layers of risk-reward gameplay.
And then there’s the soundtrack.
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Composed by Yuzo Koshiro, who’s behind Streets of Rage, Actraiser, and The Revenge of Shinobi.
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Includes a full in-game music player to replay tracks.
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Emulates the FM synth style that defined early ’90s Japanese game music.
Pretty wild, right?
An Unexpected Hero Pilots the Fight for Earth
Unlike most shoot ’em ups where you’re just “some dude in a spaceship,” Earthion puts players in the flight suit of Azusa Takanashi — an environmental scientist turned resistance fighter. It’s not the most common origin story, but it works.
Humanity has already evacuated to Mars. Earth is on its last legs. But when a new alien threat emerges, Azusa takes the helm of the YK-IIA, a sleek fighter craft that stands as Earth’s final hope.
Her mission? Simple: Save the planet or die trying.
This setup — apocalyptic, personal, and refreshingly un-macho — brings a little narrative weight to a genre that often doesn’t bother. You actually care what happens.
And honestly, it’s kind of cool seeing a non-soldier as the protagonist.
Challenge Mode, Custom Loadouts, and Replay Value Galore
Beyond its story mode, Earthion packs a Challenge Mode aimed squarely at hardcore players. No hand-holding, no mercy. Just you, your reflexes, and a wall of enemy fire.
Combat is deeper than you might expect. Various sub-weapons allow players to craft unique strategies depending on the situation. Think homing missiles for crowd control or wide-beam shots for clearing tight corridors.
The game encourages experimentation. It doesn’t punish you for trying weird builds — it rewards it.
Here’s a quick look at the main modes and features:
| Mode / Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Story Mode | Follow Azusa’s mission to reclaim Earth over eight levels |
| Challenge Mode | High-difficulty mode with harder patterns and limited lives |
| Sub-Weapons System | Equip different secondary weapons to suit different enemy types |
| Resource Recovery | Collect enemy scrap to upgrade ship capabilities |
| Music Player | Replay Yuzo Koshiro’s full soundtrack within the game interface |
It’s not just shoot and move — there’s depth here, and it shows.
The Team Behind the Pixel Curtain: Ancient’s Legacy Carries On
Ancient may not be a household name now, but their legacy looms large in retro circles. Founded by Yuzo Koshiro and his mother, the studio worked on a string of cult classics that helped define Sega’s 16-bit legacy.
Think Streets of Rage. Think Beyond Oasis. Think Actraiser.
This isn’t some team mimicking retro. They are retro.
Partnering with Bit Wave Games — known for modernizing and porting classic arcade titles — Earthion feels less like a throwback and more like a spiritual sequel to the 16-bit era itself. And yet, it plays buttery smooth on modern hardware, with crisp inputs and no noticeable lag, according to early hands-on previews.
These folks know what they’re doing.
Earthion Isn’t Just Nostalgia — It’s a Statement
With gaming’s indie scene flooded by retro-inspired titles, it’s easy to get numb to it all. But Earthion doesn’t just check the nostalgia box. It makes a case for why that era still matters.
It reminds us that good gameplay doesn’t need cinematic cutscenes or live-service updates. Sometimes, all it takes is tight controls, sharp enemy design, and music that makes your blood pump.
It’s not chasing trends — it’s embracing roots.
And maybe that’s exactly what people need right now.
