In a significant move for fans of cooperative gaming and Japanese-inspired art, Kepler Interactive and indie studio Shapefarm have announced their upcoming title, Orbitals, set for an exclusive launch on Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026.
The reveal took place during The Game Awards, immediately garnering attention within the gaming community for its unique blend of retro anime aesthetics and modern cooperative gameplay.
Orbitals is the debut project from Shapefarm, a Tokyo-based developer with a keen eye for blending nostalgia with innovation.
The game invites two players to collaborate in asymmetrical roles as they work to stop cosmic storms from devastating their space station.
Built from the ground up for cooperative play, Orbitals challenges players to solve a range of intergalactic puzzles, utilize distinctive space tools, and pilot ships through hazardous meteor fields.
The creative vision draws heavily from 1970s manga, delivering a vibrant retro anime world supported by hand-crafted cutscenes. Speaking on the game's design, Shapefarm emphasized the importance of authentic anime representation and meaningful player connection.
"We wanted to craft a universe that both pays tribute to the golden age of Japanese animation and leverages the connectivity of modern hardware," a representative explained.
To bring this artistic vision to life, Shapefarm partnered with Studio Massket, a renowned Japanese animation studio, to produce the game's detailed environments and expressive cutscenes.
This collaboration ensures Orbitals delivers a truly immersive visual experience, complemented by full English and Japanese voice acting.
Orbitals is powered by Unreal Engine 5, enabling the developers to maximize the performance capabilities of the Nintendo Switch 2.
The game offers a variety of cooperative modes, including split-screen local co-op with two pairs of Joy-Con 2 controllers on a single device, the versatile GameShare feature for sharing the experience across Switch and Switch 2 consoles, and robust online matchmaking.
Players can take advantage of the Switch 2’s built-in microphone and GameChat functionality for seamless communication during gameplay.
This collaboration between Kepler Interactive and Shapefarm represents a notable milestone for both companies: for Kepler Interactive, Orbitals adds another promising title to its growing portfolio; for Shapefarm, it's a high-profile entrance into the global gaming market.
Orbitals is scheduled for release exclusively on the Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026, and will be available via the Nintendo eShop.
Fans of Japanese anime, cooperative puzzle design, and next-generation Switch experiences can look forward to additional details as the launch date approaches.
The reveal took place during The Game Awards, immediately garnering attention within the gaming community for its unique blend of retro anime aesthetics and modern cooperative gameplay.
Orbitals is the debut project from Shapefarm, a Tokyo-based developer with a keen eye for blending nostalgia with innovation.
The game invites two players to collaborate in asymmetrical roles as they work to stop cosmic storms from devastating their space station.
Built from the ground up for cooperative play, Orbitals challenges players to solve a range of intergalactic puzzles, utilize distinctive space tools, and pilot ships through hazardous meteor fields.
The creative vision draws heavily from 1970s manga, delivering a vibrant retro anime world supported by hand-crafted cutscenes. Speaking on the game's design, Shapefarm emphasized the importance of authentic anime representation and meaningful player connection.
"We wanted to craft a universe that both pays tribute to the golden age of Japanese animation and leverages the connectivity of modern hardware," a representative explained.
To bring this artistic vision to life, Shapefarm partnered with Studio Massket, a renowned Japanese animation studio, to produce the game's detailed environments and expressive cutscenes.
This collaboration ensures Orbitals delivers a truly immersive visual experience, complemented by full English and Japanese voice acting.
Orbitals is powered by Unreal Engine 5, enabling the developers to maximize the performance capabilities of the Nintendo Switch 2.
The game offers a variety of cooperative modes, including split-screen local co-op with two pairs of Joy-Con 2 controllers on a single device, the versatile GameShare feature for sharing the experience across Switch and Switch 2 consoles, and robust online matchmaking.
Players can take advantage of the Switch 2’s built-in microphone and GameChat functionality for seamless communication during gameplay.
This collaboration between Kepler Interactive and Shapefarm represents a notable milestone for both companies: for Kepler Interactive, Orbitals adds another promising title to its growing portfolio; for Shapefarm, it's a high-profile entrance into the global gaming market.
Orbitals is scheduled for release exclusively on the Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026, and will be available via the Nintendo eShop.
Fans of Japanese anime, cooperative puzzle design, and next-generation Switch experiences can look forward to additional details as the launch date approaches.
