exA-Arcadia missed Amusement Expo 2025, but development on its upcoming arcade releases has continued. Following the company’s February exALive presentation, these are the latest updates on games entering testing, shipping or receiving further attention.
The next major announcements are planned for EVO Japan 2025, running from 9–11 May, where several new fighting games are expected. Shooters Fes follows on 14–15 June, with four or five shooting-game reveals scheduled. Before then, four current projects deserve attention.
April releases from exA-Arcadia
February marked the opening of pre-orders rather than the full launch for several titles. exA-Arcadia has since confirmed that these games are shipping during April, with some already dispatched:
- AIRGALLET EXA LABEL
- Bunny Bomber Blast
- Daemon Bride exAGAIN
AIRGALLET EXA LABEL is due to release on 15 April. Its new trailer and accompanying details outline what this EXA Label release brings to the table: a new opening theme, key visuals by original Toaplan designer Junya Inoue, and an EXA arrangement of music by Keishi Yonao. The release also uses one-frame input processing, making it twice as fast as the original.
Asuka 120% Burning Fest. EXALLENT and Chaos Code Nemesis Experiment are expected to follow soon, along with the two titles discussed below. Readers comparing dedicated arcade machines can also see how these releases fit into the wider modern arcade market.
Daemon Bride exAGAIN reaches Japanese test locations
The long-awaited “ultimate version” of Daemon Bride was still unavailable when this update was prepared, although shipping was expected by the end of April. The arcade edition adds low input lag and a remastered HD opening, while its visual improvements come from the same engine used for Arcana Heart 3 XTEND.
Testing had already begun at Japanese locations, including Kohatsu in Osaka. The footage below comes from one of those recent livestreamed tests.
For more coverage of current arcade news and releases, this fighting-game update is one of the more prominent items in exA-Arcadia’s present schedule.
Cyberblocker R combines brick breaking with shooting
Cyberblocker R blends brick-breaker rules with shoot ’em up action. The result is an unusual hybrid that could reasonably be called a “Brick Hell Breaker”. An early version was shown at Amusement Expo 2024, but the build now being presented is substantially different and places much greater emphasis on shooting.
The completed game features new artwork from Serial Experiments Lain illustrator Yoshitoshi Abe, vocals by Naruto theme singer Diana Garnet, and an FM-heavy soundtrack from former Zuntata member Yasuhisa Watanabe. It is intended to be the first in a series of exA trackball games, with testing in Japan beginning on Wednesday.
Jitsu Squad arcade edition compared with Switch
exA-Arcadia also provided a review copy of Jitsu Squad Featuring Samurai Pizza Cats. Having completed the Switch version and played beyond its ending, a comparison with the arcade release was possible.
The arcade build feels faster and more responsive, with a smoother flow through the action. It also fixes bugs and smaller presentation problems, including text alignment on some screens. Every piece of content is unlocked immediately, removing the need to grind before accessing the complete experience.
Each character can launch opponents into the air and continue with combos in a style reminiscent of Marvel vs. Capcom. Speedy, for example, can use up plus attack to launch an enemy, then jump and attack in mid-air. Special moves and supers are available during these aerial sequences, while further combinations are shown in the moveset artwork.
The difference in image quality is particularly noticeable in person, with the arcade version appearing sharper than the Switch release. Switch can also struggle during gameplay, while no equivalent issue had been encountered in the arcade edition. The improvements use VRAM to its limit and allow a character to jump in at any time.
These announcements cover only part of exA-Arcadia’s plans. EVO Japan should bring more fighting-game news in May, followed by additional shooting-game reveals at Shooters Fes in June. For anyone planning a home setup, RETROCADE’s arcade machine buying guide and range of upright arcade cabinets provide useful background.
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