Toaplan Returns to Arcades with Batsugun EXA Label

Toaplan’s name remains closely associated with influential shoot ’em ups, including the early foundations of the bullet-hell style and memorable arcade soundtracks. Now, the studio’s legacy is set to reach modern arcades through Batsugun EXA Label.

From Toaplan’s final years to Batsugun

Toaplan’s last arcade release arrived in 1994 with Snow Bros. 2. The company went bankrupt soon afterwards, while several former staff members went on to establish CAVE, helping carry the bullet-hell tradition into a new era.

One of the key games in that transition was Batsugun. Although it was Toaplan’s second-last release, its scrolling-shooter design is widely regarded as an important step towards the intense bullet patterns that would define later games in the genre.

Batsugun EXA Label announced

Batsugun EXA Label will bring the classic shooter to arcades worldwide through the exA-Arcadia platform. The announcement marks a significant return for a Toaplan title after the company’s original arcade era ended.

Specific details remain limited, but the project is expected to receive treatment comparable to CAVE’s DoDonPachi True Death EXA Label. That approach positioned the game as an enhanced, definitive-style version, with the possibility of additional modes, very low input latency and 4K support.

The announcement also arrived exactly two years after the release of DoDonPachi True Death EXA Label. For Australian arcade fans tracking new hardware and software, the project is another noteworthy development in the modern arcade scene. Explore more arcade news or review the arcade machine buying guide when considering a suitable setup.

First look at the new release

A teaser is available through the official Batsugun EXA Label game page, although further information was not available at the time of the announcement. More details were scheduled to appear when the game debuted at JAEPO 2023.

Whether you prefer a full upright arcade or a smaller bartop cabinet, a modern version of this Toaplan shooter gives the historic title a new place in contemporary arcade play.