exA-Arcadia has announced two significant fighting-game updates: Vanguard Princess R is now shipping, while pre-orders have opened for Chaos Code: Nemesis Experiment. Both titles are being released for arcade locations and private buyers worldwide.
Vanguard Princess R is now shipping
Developed with FK Digital, Vanguard Princess R is an all-female, one-versus-one fighting game presented as a redesigned, remastered and rebuilt version of the original. Interested operators and private buyers can now obtain the game for compatible exA-Arcadia systems.
Per the exA website, the game has been revamped by the designers behind the Chaos Code series. Its combat system supports chained combos that can cancel into special and super moves, while a support teammate can extend combos or create traps.
Players can also use the Reflect defensive technique to parry attacks and create an opening. An easy special-move button allows straightforward access to special attacks and even supers, while traditional motion inputs remain available for players who prefer them.
The release kit is shown below. Reports from testing indicate that the game has been performing well, which may give operators confidence in its prospects on exA hardware.
Chaos Code: Nemesis Experiment pre-orders open
FK Digital is also preparing Chaos Code: Nemesis Experiment, the sequel to Chaos Code EXA. The new instalment is described as fully exclusive to the exA-Arcadia platform, with no ports available at this time.
The roster has expanded from 16 characters in the earlier game to 20 playable fighters. The sequel also introduces a new graphics engine and uses exA-Arcadia’s fast input response, described as exceeding that of consoles.
Each kit includes larger rule posters, similar to the materials supplied with the first game. Orders placed now are scheduled to begin shipping in the following month.
Both games are available worldwide and are not region locked. That means any arcade location can acquire them, provided it has an exA-Arcadia system. Operators planning a purchase can compare formats and setups in RETROCADE’s arcade machine buying guide.
More fighting games on the way
Including the low-key release of Nope Nope Nurses for the exA-adjacent Hawt Pink platform, the 2025 arcade calendar has already brought five new fighting-game releases worldwide. That number will reach six when Chaos Code: Nemesis Experiment begins shipping, with a total of at least seven—and possibly eight—expected by the end of the year.
The full picture may become clearer after IAAPA 2025. Blazing Strike AC is expected to be part of that broader release group, while The Fallen Angels Revenge and Tattoo Assassins remain further away.
When releases since 2020 are included, exA-Arcadia has helped put more new one-versus-one fighting games into arcades than players saw from the late 1990s onward. More titles are also expected by next year. For operators considering dedicated hardware, RETROCADE’s collections of arcade machines and upright arcades provide useful context around cabinet options.
Can players help build an audience?
The growing catalogue raises a wider question about how fighting-game communities can support arcade releases, particularly in the United States. In Japan, players are putting more energy into arcade locations, and exA-Arcadia games are becoming increasingly common there.
A similar result could happen elsewhere, but operators ultimately need to see consistent earnings. Social-media discussion alone is unlikely to persuade most venues; regular visits, bringing friends and playing the games repeatedly provide a clearer signal.
Killer Queen Arcade offers an example of what organised fan support can achieve. The game might have disappeared from attention if its community had not campaigned for more arcades to install it. The challenge now is finding ways to create similar momentum for new fighting games.
For players who want arcades to continue offering new video games rather than relying mainly on ticket-redemption attractions, direct support at local venues matters. Showing up more than once a year and spending time on the games can help demonstrate demand.
Between the two new exA-Arcadia releases, Vanguard Princess R is shipping now, while Chaos Code: Nemesis Experiment is accepting pre-orders ahead of its planned shipping window. Which one would you most like to play?
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