Day two of EVO Japan 2026 added another new title to exA-Arcadia’s fighting-game programme, alongside a Japanese debut, an in-development update and several established games receiving tournament attention. Licensing approvals limited the number of new announcements, but the booth still offered plenty for arcade fans to examine.
Here is the second-day overview, including an unexpected return for 2XKO.
Diesel Legacy: The Brazen Age
The further new announcement was Diesel Legacy: The Brazen Age, a four-player fighter from Maximum Entertainment. Its 2v2 format places two teams in a steampunk-inspired 1920s world, with battles taking place across stages built around two depth levels.
Moving between those levels gives the game a 2.5D character, with players switching between what can effectively be treated as separate lanes. The title first launched on home platforms in late 2024 and has received a reasonably positive, if relatively quiet, response. An exA-Arcadia release could introduce it to a fresh arcade audience.
Baki Hanma Blood Arena Clash
Technically another announcement, Baki Hanma Blood Arena Clash had already appeared in Western markets, including at IAAPA. EVO Japan 2026 marked its first showing in Japan, giving local players a chance to try the demanding fighter.
The game also appears to be attracting interest from Japanese players, as player reactions indicate. It was also one of the standout titles at IAAPA 2025.
Footage from the IAAPA presentation is included below. Video recorded at Amusement Expo was lost, which may be for the best given the quality of the play captured there.
The Rumble Fish 2 Nexus
The Rumble Fish 2 Nexus is the in-development update to Dimps’ The Rumble Fish 2, first revealed by exA-Arcadia at EVO Japan the previous year. It returned to the booth in 2026 and was playable in a side tournament.
Players have reported substantial balance adjustments. The interface also places move information along the side margins, an especially practical choice for a 4:3 arcade presentation. It would be useful to offer that layout as an alternative to the usual character-art panels.
Footage of “yota the GOAT” playing provides a look at the game, followed by the side-tournament setup.
Additional gameplay from IAAPA 2025 appears below. As further exA-Arcadia releases remain in development, a wider rollout of these projects will be worth watching for operators and enthusiasts considering an arcade machine for a home or commercial collection.
Returning exA-Arcadia Fighters
Three previously released games were also active at the show: Daemon Bride, Asuka 120% Burning Fest Exallent and Chaos Code: Nemesis Experiment. Each appeared either on the exA-Arcadia booth or in a side tournament.
The Chaos Code developers have been particularly active in promoting the game, which they describe as the only title at the event developed in Taiwan.
The official Chaos Code livestream is included here. Side tournaments also featured Breakers Revenge Chicago, released in 2024, and Axel City 2. Their continued presence shows that older and specialist fighting games can still attract tournament attention.
2XKO Returns to the Booth
The most unusual sight was the return of 2XKO cabinets. At EVO 2024, exA-Arcadia had unexpectedly displayed cabinets running Riot Games’ then-upcoming fighter, suggesting a partnership between the companies. The connection then went quiet.
With 2XKO now available on home platforms and apparently struggling to achieve its hoped-for impact in that market, the cabinets reappeared at EVO Japan 2026. That raises the possibility of an arcade-focused trial, although the evidence is inconclusive.
The cabinets’ return was documented at the event, while images indicate they were running the PS5 version. That detail argues against a dedicated arcade build, but the experiment would still be notable if Riot and exA-Arcadia are assessing whether the game could perform better in arcades.
What Day Two Revealed
exA-Arcadia’s second day at EVO Japan 2026 combined one genuinely new announcement with a Japanese debut, an evolving update and a selection of returning fighters. The mix highlights the range of modern arcade releases, from independent and specialist projects to major home-platform properties being tested in cabinet form.
For readers comparing formats, Retrocade’s arcade machine buying guide covers key considerations before choosing a cabinet, while upright arcades and bartop arcades suit different spaces and setups.
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