During the latest Nintendo Direct, retro gaming fans received some exciting news as Hamster, a publisher renowned for revitalizing arcade classics, confirmed the upcoming release of Bandai Namco’s 1995 arcade hit Rave Racer for modern home consoles.
This release marks the 31st anniversary of Rave Racer’s original arcade debut, adding another chapter to the storied Ridge Racer franchise.
Originally launched in Japanese arcades, Rave Racer quickly captivated gamers with its impressive visuals and innovative racing mechanics.
While there were early intentions to bring the title to PC soon after its arcade premiere, these plans were ultimately shelved.
Since then, the only official domestic home release of Rave Racer was via the Arcade 1Up Ridge Racer cabinet, making this console version particularly noteworthy for collectors and franchise enthusiasts. Hamster has revealed that Rave Racer will be available as part of the acclaimed Arcade Archives range, a series celebrated for preserving arcade history and making classic titles accessible to modern audiences on platforms such as the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation consoles.
The release date for Rave Racer within Arcade Archives is set for February 26th, 2026, delivering a long-awaited home experience for fans of retro racing games. In addition to reviving Rave Racer, Hamster also took the opportunity at Nintendo Direct to announce an entirely new series: Console Archives.
This initiative is poised to bring classic console titles from across gaming history to today’s hardware, expanding Hamster’s preservation efforts beyond the arcade sphere.
Early entries in the Console Archives series include the PlayStation’s beloved snowboarding title Cool Borders and the Famicom-based adventure Doraemon, promising a diverse lineup that spans genres and generations. A senior representative from Hamster noted during the presentation that the company is committed to, in their words, 'ensuring that classic games remain available and enjoyable for both veteran gamers and new audiences alike on contemporary platforms.' These announcements underscore Hamster’s ongoing dedication to digital preservation of classic video games, following a string of successful Arcade Archives releases on the Nintendo Switch eShop and other platforms.
With Bandai Namco’s Rave Racer finally making its home console debut and the launch of the new Console Archives initiative, the retro gaming community has much to anticipate as more classic titles become accessible to modern players.
This release marks the 31st anniversary of Rave Racer’s original arcade debut, adding another chapter to the storied Ridge Racer franchise.
Originally launched in Japanese arcades, Rave Racer quickly captivated gamers with its impressive visuals and innovative racing mechanics.
While there were early intentions to bring the title to PC soon after its arcade premiere, these plans were ultimately shelved.
Since then, the only official domestic home release of Rave Racer was via the Arcade 1Up Ridge Racer cabinet, making this console version particularly noteworthy for collectors and franchise enthusiasts. Hamster has revealed that Rave Racer will be available as part of the acclaimed Arcade Archives range, a series celebrated for preserving arcade history and making classic titles accessible to modern audiences on platforms such as the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation consoles.
The release date for Rave Racer within Arcade Archives is set for February 26th, 2026, delivering a long-awaited home experience for fans of retro racing games. In addition to reviving Rave Racer, Hamster also took the opportunity at Nintendo Direct to announce an entirely new series: Console Archives.
This initiative is poised to bring classic console titles from across gaming history to today’s hardware, expanding Hamster’s preservation efforts beyond the arcade sphere.
Early entries in the Console Archives series include the PlayStation’s beloved snowboarding title Cool Borders and the Famicom-based adventure Doraemon, promising a diverse lineup that spans genres and generations. A senior representative from Hamster noted during the presentation that the company is committed to, in their words, 'ensuring that classic games remain available and enjoyable for both veteran gamers and new audiences alike on contemporary platforms.' These announcements underscore Hamster’s ongoing dedication to digital preservation of classic video games, following a string of successful Arcade Archives releases on the Nintendo Switch eShop and other platforms.
With Bandai Namco’s Rave Racer finally making its home console debut and the launch of the new Console Archives initiative, the retro gaming community has much to anticipate as more classic titles become accessible to modern players.
