Extragalactica Infinite available on Steam

Extragalactica Infinite is a new shmup available right now on Steam. Both Windows and macOS versions are available and it's coming to iOS and Android too.

R-Type Dimensions EX hits the App Store

With R-Type dimensions out on seemingly all current and last-gen consoles and  a new entry in the series on the way, perhaps it's only fitting that R-Type Dimensions EX is now also on iOS.

Deathsmiles for iOS is 40% off between Oct 28th and Nov 4th

If you want to try out playing shmups on your iOS device, now is the time!

Nimblenaut: new(ish) free shmup for iOS

It's free, no in-app purchases. Why not give it a try?

Engadget guide to pairing PS4/Xbone controllers to iOS/Android devices

A guide to pairing.
This is mostly new to iOS since  newly released version 13 allows pairing, Android has done this for some time.

Truxton/Tatsujin available for Android, iOS

Seminal Toaplan shooter Tatsujin (Truxton to us in the west) has launched for iOS and Android under the inspired name Tatsujin classic. The graphics seem stretched but the gameplay looks intact.

CAVE finally going to update iOS games

In what can only be described as a (very welcome) surprise announcement, CAVE has shared the news that they will be updating their iOS apps to 64-bit versions to allow us to enjoy the games moving forward. We can finally start updating our iOS devices!

No word on the Android apps yet.

EDIT: The update will be free of charge _and_ there will be an anniversary sale for people who missed out the first time.

The following titles are getting updates:
Dodonpachi Blissful Death
Dodonpachi Resurrection HD
Dodonpachi Maximum
Deathsmiles

EDIT2: Trailer.

Cossanox is a thing and has been bumped to Version 1.1

Cossanox has flown well under my radar but demos for Windows. Linux and Mac is available and with the newly launched version 1.1 has added 4-player co-op and a new ship.



The full game is available for 6 USD (or more if you like).

Lumiette, a new danmaku shooter in development

Lumiette - a dream in four layers, is a new danmaku shmup being developed and beta builds are released from time to time, one of those times is now (or, you know, 5 days ago).

Even in beta form the game is available for Linux, macOS and Windows. Amazing!

Some twin-stick action perhaps?

AREA 4643 is a new twin-stick shooter out on Steam, it arrived December 21st for both Windows and macOS. It's also currently on sale!



BulletRage is another twin-sticker but is currently in beta. This one will hit Windows, macOS and Linux on Steam in (I guess) early 2019. Console releases (PS4, Xbox One and Switch) are planned.

The new Black Bird trailer has arrived

Still coming for Switch, PC and Mac I presume?

Strikers 1945 Plus and 1999 headed to home consoles

Psikyo's revered Strikers series gets two new entries ported to home consoles.

Strikers 1945 Plus is coming to Xbox One, PS4 and Nintendo Switch from Hamster in their ACA series. It has been available for iOS and the Sony PSP in the past.

Strikers 1999 is coming from ZeroDiv and has only been confirmed as an upcoming title for Switch so far. This is the first appearance of this particular Strikers game on any home console, only being ported to Android before.

A quick update on Astro Tales

The Astro Tales team reached out to me after my blog post about the game last week.


It turns out the target platforms are iOS and Android and they are hoping to release at the end of 2018. Expect more announcements when they start spinning their PR machine in a few weeks.

Upcoming shooters: Astro Tales and Flight of the Athena

Astro Tales, a vertically scrolling abstract shooter, claims to be "coming soon". Information is quite scarce but I believe it to be targeted at Windows - correction: its actually coming for iOS and Android.



Flight of the Athena is also a vertically scrolling shmup but with a release date TBC (and looking at the trailer, with one release window already missed) but targetting Steam, so again basically Windows.

Black Bird coming this summer on PC, Mac and Switch

Black Bird is a new shmup, first announced 2016, that will land on Nintendos eShop and Steam (for Mac and PC) this summer.


There will be a live stream with more news on the game today.

Gridrunner ported to PS4, more coming!

Jeff Minter, master of all things trippy, has ported Gridrunner to PlayStation 4 with and without VR.



And also promises more of the former iOS games are coming to PlayStation 4.

One last bit of Nintendo Switch news before heading into 2018

Aka to Blue, this years best danmaku shooter for mobile phones, is rumoured to be heading to Nintendo Switch.


If true this is great news! The Nintendo Switch has been steadily building up an impressive library of STGs. Lets hope the trend continues!

On an unrelated note, I hope 2017 was great and I wish you a happy new year!

AKA TO BLUE / AKA & BLUE from ex-CAVE employees out now!

In both app stores for iOS and Android. It's been out a couple of weeks in Japan but has now hit western stores as linked.
On iOS its available for both iPhones and iPads.

AKA TO BLUE is a bullet hell style shooter designed from the ground up for touch devices and is (unsurprisingly) very reminiscent of CAVEs work.

Some AKA & BLUE gameplay

Looks highly similar to a CAVE game to me.

Ex-CAVE-developers launching mobile game in the west in September

AKA & BLUE, release earlier in August in Japan for android and iOS is coming to western shores in September according to a Facebook post from the developer.

The game made by ex-CAVE-employees is a pure bullet-hell shooter developed with touch controls in mind.

The statement:

We plan to deliver the overseas version of AKA & BLUE in September, and we are developing it. Please wait for a while.

Because we have difficulty advertising overseas, we would like to ask everyone for their cooperation. Thank you.

by TANOSHIMASU