exA-Arcadia has shared fresh details about several upcoming arcade releases during an exALive streaming event in Japan. The Japanese-language presentation focused on games nearing release, including new information about Airgallet EXA Label, Bunny Bomber Blast, Chaos Code Next and Daemon Bride ExAgain.
The company also confirmed an appearance at IAAPI 2025 Expo, an Indian trade show dedicated to the expanding amusement sector. This is separate from IAAPA.
For operators and collectors looking to buy an exA system, the company has added a Cabinets section at the top of its website too. Demand for the ARC-32 remains high, but the new listing should make the cabinet easier to locate. Australian buyers comparing dedicated machines can also browse RETROCADE’s arcade machine buying guide.
Airgallet EXA Label
The vertical-scrolling shoot ’em up Airgallet is returning in an enhanced EXA Label edition. The original was Banpresto/Gazelle’s 1996 release, a game that remains relatively uncommon outside Japan. Its development history shares personnel with Batsugun, making that classic a useful point of comparison.
The new version began location testing at Taito HEY in Japan shortly before the stream. It adds an EXA mode, an arranged soundtrack, reduced input lag, new graphical elements and remade voice work alongside additional voices. TEAM EXA-AM1, whose credits include Gimmick! Exact Mix, Cotton Rock ‘n’ Roll and Batsugun EXA LABEL, is handling the project.
Airgallet EXA Label is scheduled to launch by the end of March. An 11-hour recording from the Japanese test was also made available for those wanting to see the latest build.
Bunny Bomber Blast
Described as a combination of Dig Dug and Bomberman, Bunny Bomber Blast was presented as approximately 90% complete, with a February release noted on the stream. The game had previously been playable at Amusement Expo 2024 in March and IAAPA 2024 in November.
The latest information confirms that the game will not ship with 8-way joystick support. Its retro-styled design is expected to bring an affordable price point comparable with Donut Dodo Do!, which shares the same music composer. Artist Kou, known for work on Shantae and Rockman ZX, created the artwork.
Chaos Code Next
The sequel to Chaos Code is planned for a summer release and was listed as 80% complete. The original fighting game also received an ultimate version on exA-Arcadia, but the presentation offered little additional information about the follow-up.
Cyberblocker R
Cyberblocker R is an indie brick-breaker in the style of Arkanoid, and it was the first game discussed during the stream. It will support exA-Arcadia’s own trackball controls and was listed as 75% complete.
The trackball launches later this year alongside four games designed for the control method, allowing operators to build a complete EXA trackball lineup. Wild Guns Rawhide is confirmed as one of those four titles. An early version of Cyberblocker R was playable in Las Vegas last year, although it was not available to try at IAAPA 2024.
Music is being composed by Yack, a former member of ZUNTATA, adding an appropriate connection to a game built around an arcade brick-breaker format.
Daemon Bride ExAgain
Daemon Bride first appeared in Japanese arcades in 2009 before receiving several iterations in arcades and on home platforms including Steam. Daemon Bride ExAgain is intended to become the definitive edition, bringing together the strongest elements from across the series as angels and demons battle for their own reasons.
The game was listed as 80% complete and has entered testing in Japan. Its planned release window is spring. Enhancements include a training mode, a full-HD remake of the attract video, new key visuals and approximately two frames of input lag.
exA-Arcadia is also using the graphics-rendering approach developed for Arcana Heart 3 Xtend. This produces remastered HD sprites that are sharper than those in earlier versions.
Updates for Existing Games
The presentation also covered new version updates for existing titles.
- Axel City 2 V1.0.3: input lag reduced to 0.3 frames, alongside multiple balance and hitbox adjustments.
- Batsugun EXA V1.5: input lag reduced to one frame, bug fixes, a new Special DASH mode and a daily ranking feature.
- Both Touhou games: balance revisions and bug fixes.
exA-Arcadia also promoted mini-marquee stickers for its cabinets. The labels give the machines a look reminiscent of NeoGeo MVS setups and can be ordered directly from exA at little or no additional cost. Customers need to provide their cabinet’s serial number.
A New Teaser
The stream ended with a single rough character sketch hinting at another, currently unnamed title. Viewers speculated about a possible return for Data East’s Atomic Runner Chelnov, but that identification has not been confirmed.
exA-Arcadia has also stated that a major new intellectual property is in development. It is not known whether that project will be revealed at Amusement Expo 2025 or EVO Japan 2025, and the teased sketch may not represent that larger project. With several releases and updates in progress, the platform’s roadmap remains busy.
For more arcade industry coverage, visit the RETROCADE arcade blog. Owners planning upgrades or maintenance can also explore arcade parts and arcade repairs.
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