Truxton is getting its first new game since 1992 this summer

The classic shoot 'em up series Truxton is getting a new entry on July 30, 2026. Publisher Clear River Games and developer Tatsujin announced the summer release date for Truxton Extreme, which is coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.

This is the first completely new game in the franchise in 34 years. The original Truxton (known as Tatsujin in Japan) hit arcades in 1988 and quickly gained a reputation for its punishing difficulty and massive, screen-filling skull bombs. It reached a much wider audience the following year when it became an early, popular release for the Sega Genesis. A direct arcade sequel arrived in 1992, but the series has been dormant ever since.

The new project is being handled by Tatsujin, a Japanese studio founded by original Truxton creator Masahiro Yuge. The company currently owns the rights to the entire catalog of Toaplan, the arcade developer responsible for the original games. Yuge is also returning to compose the Truxton Extreme soundtrack. He is mixing new compositions with rearranged tracks from the 1980s hardware.

Modern firepower and manga

The core gameplay loop remains a vertical-scrolling bullet hell, but Tatsujin has replaced the 2D pixel art with fully rendered 3D models. Players have access to classic weapons like the Truxton Beam and Thunder Laser, alongside new additions like a Homing Shot and Star-mine Shot. Players can also use new empowered attacks that take advantage of the updated graphics engine.

The game includes several different modes depending on how you want to play. Story mode follows three new protagonists and tells its narrative through animated manga panels drawn by Junya Inoue, the creator of the manga Btooom!. If you prefer the classic arcade pacing, Arcade mode strips out the story entirely so you can just shoot things.

Multiple ways to play

The developers have added a few quality-of-life features for players who lack the reflexes of a 1988 arcade veteran. A new Heart Starter mode prevents you from losing lives when you make a mistake. The game instead applies a short recovery penalty when you take a hit. There is also a Team mode that allows for two-player local co-op, where both players share a single pool of lives and bombs. For high-score chasers, an Arena mode offers a two-minute time trial to rack up as many points as possible. There is even a bizarre base-building element called Pipiruville mode. Players rescue Pipiru aliens during normal gameplay, which then allows them to unlock and develop a small alien village between stages.

Clear River Games is offering a few ways to buy the game. The standard digital release will cost $25, while physical copies for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series consoles are priced at $40. The Switch 2 physical edition will run a bit higher at $50.

A 34-year gap between sequels is unusual even in the retro revival space. With the original creator at the helm and a complete graphical overhaul, it will be interesting to see if the brutal, memorization-heavy gameplay of the arcade original translates well to a modern 3D engine. The inclusion of forgiving difficulty options suggests Tatsujin wants to bring in new players, rather than just catering to the hardcore shoot 'em up community.