Three different parts of the arcade business are moving forward: a light-gun game is heading to the United States, an exA-Arcadia shooter is undergoing Japanese location testing, and Bandai Namco is trialling capsule-toy vending in American venues.
Galaxy Rangers targets the US arcade market
Galaxy Rangers, a light-gun game from Ace Amusements, has appeared in a listing on Betson’s website. The listing is currently easier to find through a direct search than through the site’s latest-games page.
The game is expected to reach the United States through Coastal Amusements, which has not yet added the title to its own online catalogue. Betson identifies Ace Amusements as the manufacturer. Because the game is not being promoted widely at this stage, it may already be undergoing testing at a US location, although that has not been confirmed.
For readers tracking the wider arcade market, the RETROCADE arcade news archive covers new releases, machines and industry developments.
Astro Ninja Man EXA enters location testing
Astro Ninja Man EXA is currently being tested in Japan, but the planned release is worldwide. It is scheduled to launch in September alongside P-47 Aces Mk. II.
The test begins at two Japanese venues on 28 July 2022 and runs until Monday, based on a Japanese exA announcement and its translated details. The title began life as a homebrew NES game, in the same broad tradition as Kira Kira Star Night exa. Its shooting action was designed to push the original NES and Famicom hardware.
What changes in the exA version?
The arcade edition retains the central premise: players control Astro Ninja Man as humanity’s last hope against invaders from space. It combines accessible shooting with large bosses, prominent visual effects and demanding gameplay aimed at experienced players. The developers also stress that the arcade release contains features unavailable in the home version.
- Difficulty can adjust as a player’s skill improves.
- Key elements from two modes have been brought together into one revised experience.
- The game keeps its action within a 4:3 image area, with exA character-art banners filling the sides on 16:9 displays.
- Input lag is intended to remain extremely low, with the feel kept close to an NES connected to a CRT television.
The soundtrack includes work by Hiroto Saito, Nobuyuki Shiota, Manabu Namiki and Bun. Shiota has also supplied two additional exA-exclusive tracks, described as early attempts to use PCM sound sources in this context. The album 8BIT Astro Ninja Man EXA – RIKI collection – was scheduled for release through Nippon Columbia on 28 September 2022, while the extra music could be heard first at the location test. Further album information is available from Nippon Columbia.
The earlier Kira Kira Star Night exa release was positioned at a very affordable price, so there was an expectation that Astro Ninja Man EXA could fall within a similar range. That comparison did not establish a confirmed price.
For operators and collectors comparing formats, RETROCADE’s arcade machine buying guide is a useful starting point, while arcade machines and arcade parts cover the practical side of cabinet ownership.
Bandai Namco tests gashapon at Round1USA
Gashapon is the Japanese capsule-toy vending format, comparable to the bulk-vending machines found in shopping centres and amusement venues. The machines dispense small toys in capsules, with the format often treated as a more premium version of conventional bulk vending.
The word “gashapon” is trademarked by Bandai, the parent company of Bandai Namco Amusements. Bandai Namco has begun testing groups of gashapon machines at Round1USA locations. The company has publicly shared the trial, which may indicate that the equipment could eventually become available to other operators, although no wider release was confirmed at the time.
The toys identified in the current selection include Gundam, Demon Slayer, Dragon Ball Z and Digimon. This gives the test a strong connection to established Japanese entertainment brands rather than generic capsule prizes.
From light-gun cabinets and low-lag shooters to capsule vending, these developments show how varied the modern arcade floor can be. They also highlight the different paths a game or attraction can take before reaching operators and players.
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