On October 8, 2026, TATSUJIN Co., Ltd.released a story introduction video for “TATSUJIN EXTREME” to commemorate the upcoming 38th anniversary of the shooting game “TATSUJIN,” which first launched in arcades on October 13, 1988.
In the series’ 38th year, the backstory is finally revealed?
The original “TATSUJIN” was an arcade game developed by Toa Plan and released in 1988.
It garnered attention for its “Tatsujin Bomb”—which made the player invincible as a skull effect engulfed the screen the moment it was fired—and for its challenging difficulty level, which seemed tailored for true “masters,” just as the title suggests.In 1992, the sequel, *Tatsujin-Oh*, was released, and its insanely high difficulty—which instantly left run-of-the-mill shooters in the dust—is still talked about as a legend to this day.
In 2026, 34 years after *Tatsujin King*, the latest entry in the series, *TATSUJIN EXTREME*, has finally arrived. It’s generating buzz as the new *TATSUJIN* of the Reiwa era.
A story introduction video for “TATSUJIN EXTREME” has now been released. The series’ world setting is revealed through illustrations by Junya Inoue—a manga artist formerly affiliated with Toa Plan—and newly recorded narration.
To commemorate the series’ 38th anniversary, a sale is being held on the PS5 and Nintendo Switch versions of “TATSUJIN EXTREME” that include DLC. The price is 3,960 yen (tax included), a 20% discount, and the sale runs until October 21.
Additionally, the PC version is included in the Steam Autumn Sale. The sale runs until 2:00 a.m. on October 9.
In addition, a repost campaign is underway where participants can win a plush toy of “Pipiru Seijin,” the former mascot of Toa Plan. Please check the official TATSUJIN X post for details.
"TATSUJIN EXTREME" is currently available for PC (Steam), PS5, XBOX Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2. Although TATSUJIN Co., Ltd. has announced that the Xbox Series X|S version is not included in the sale, it appears the sale is still ongoing for that version through October 13.
