Competitive fighting games have become more prominent on home consoles than in amusement arcades, particularly outside Japan. exA-Arcadia is working to close that gap with a steady stream of new coin-op releases.
Since the platform launched in late 2019, exA-Arcadia has released five fighting games: Samurai Shodown V Perfect, Kung Fu Vs. Karate Champ, Chaos Code EXA, Fight of Gods AE and Dynamite Bomb!!. The upcoming Axel City 2 is expected to bring the total to six.
Four additional fighting games appear on the company’s games page, while at least two more titles in the genre are known to be unannounced. Although exA-Arcadia remains strongly associated with shoot ’em ups, its fighting-game catalogue is expanding quickly.
That push will be visible at EVO 2023 in Las Vegas. exA-Arcadia announced on Twitter/X that they will have a booth at the event, with ten titles scheduled for display. Five of those games are fighters, including two unreleased projects: Arcana Heart 3 Xtend and Axel City 2.
The event begins tomorrow and runs until Sunday. Based on the available information, exA-Arcadia appears to be the only coin-op arcade manufacturer attending. That is not entirely unexpected: outside Japan, Raw Thrills is the other notable company producing games in the genre, but its six-year-old Injustice machine was designed for a broader casual audience rather than dedicated fighting-game competitors.
An appearance at EVO could help more players discover locations equipped with exA systems. For arcade operators and enthusiasts, the result to watch will be whether greater tournament exposure translates into more interest in playing these games on location.
For readers following the wider coin-op scene, the RETROCADE Arcade Blog covers arcade news and gaming developments. Those considering a dedicated machine can also explore the Arcade Machine Buying Guide or browse arcade machines for the home.
Leave a Reply