Get ready for a dose of pure, unadulterated 16-bit arcade action heading your way. Earthion, a brand new shoot ’em up from the studio of legendary composer Yuzo Koshiro (the genius behind the music of Streets of Rage, ActRaiser, and Shinobi), is set to launch on modern platforms later this year.
Developed by Ancient Corporation, Koshiro’s own team, Earthion is a space-themed 2D side-scrolling shooter that’s aiming to recapture the feel of the genre’s heyday. You’ll take control of space fighter pilot Azusa Takahashi across eight chaotic levels, each promising unique environments, waves of enemies, and those all-important, screen-filling boss encounters.
What’s particularly fascinating for retro fans is that Earthion has been built from the ground up to run natively on original SEGA Genesis and Mega Drive hardware, pushing those classic 16-bit systems to their limits. While this article is focused on the modern console release, that little detail speaks volumes about the game’s authentic retro pedigree – they’re even releasing a physical cartridge for those original consoles.
And of course, with Yuzo Koshiro involved, the soundtrack is a major highlight. He’s returned to his 16-bit roots to compose 27 original tracks and a wealth of sound effects, designed to perfectly complement the on-screen action and transport you back to the arcade era. For the modern console versions, you’ll also get customisable scanline options to help recreate that classic CRT look on your contemporary display.
Earthion is slated for release in 2025, and it’s coming to Xbox Series X|S. Limited Run Games and Headup Games are handling the publishing duties. The team behind it includes other notable talents like Makoto Wada and artist Mitsuhiro Arita (known for his work on Pokémon TCG).
Here’s what you can expect when Earthion blasts onto modern consoles, including Xbox:
- 8 Stages of intense arcade action with unique environments, enemies and bosses
- Music and sound crafted by the legendary Yuzo Koshiro
- 27 Original Tracks and countless sound effects
- Multiple difficulties and a challenge mode
- Configurable scanlines and display settings for that retro feel
- A classic Level Password System
- A dedicated Music Player Mode
- Includes bonus playable demos from the game’s development
- Online Leaderboards (Note: not available for the original Genesis/Mega Drive cartridge editions)
If you have a fondness for classic 2D shooters, appreciate the iconic sound of 16-bit era music, or just want to see a modern take on retro design done right, Earthion looks like a title worth keeping an eye on for your Xbox later this year.
