Apidya is getting a modern remaster with a new Chris Hülsbeck soundtrack

Publisher ININ Games has announced Apidya Special, a modernized release of the 1992 Amiga shoot 'em up, coming to Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Xbox on August 25, 2026. According to the official pre-order trailer, the game includes a visual toggle and brand new music.

A proper arcade shooter

To understand why this release is notable, you have to look at the original developer. Kaiko was a German studio founded in 1990 by Frank Matzke, Peter Thierolf, and legendary composer Chris Hülsbeck. They wanted to make console-style games for the Commodore Amiga. The computer had plenty of shooters, but most of them felt clunky compared to Japanese arcade cabinets. Apidya was different. It played like a proper arcade title, complete with a Gradius-style power-up bar and tight hitboxes.

I always found the setting refreshing. Instead of flying a spaceship through cold mechanical corridors, you play as a magical bee named Ikki. Your wife has been poisoned by a dark lord named Hexaae, so you shrink down to insect size to fight him. You spend the game shooting stingers at mutated wasps, sewer rats, and mechanical bugs. Dodging pollen and angry fish is just a lot more interesting than navigating another grey laser grid.

The new release includes a "Past and Present" mode. Players can switch between the original 1992 pixel art and a modernized visual style on the fly. We have all been there: buying a remaster only to realize the updated graphics look like a smoothed-out mobile game. Having the original Amiga graphics available on a toggle is mandatory for a project like this.

I still hum the stage one theme

The biggest draw is the audio. Chris Hülsbeck has returned to compose a brand new soundtrack for the special edition. Hülsbeck is widely known for his work on the Turrican series, but his techno-orchestral fusion in Apidya is arguably his best work. I still hum the stage one theme while doing chores. Hearing his modern take on those tracks is easily the most exciting part of the package.

Seeing Amiga exclusives get native ports to modern consoles is still a rare occurrence. Most retro revivals focus on the Super Nintendo or Sega Genesis. The Amiga 500 was a powerhouse in Europe, but its games rarely crossed over to the American console market. Bringing a European computer classic to modern platforms gives a whole new audience a chance to play one of the best shooters of the 16-bit era.

Digital and physical options

Pre-orders are currently open through the ININ Games website. The digital version will cost €19.99 across all platforms. There is also a physical Special Edition available for €54.99.

Kaiko pushed the Amiga hardware to its absolute limits before the studio eventually folded in the mid-nineties, and having their work documented is a welcome addition.