Taito’s seminal 1986 arcade hit Arkanoid is headed back to modern consoles on May 7, 2026, as Hamster prepares simultaneous releases across multiple platforms.
The classic brick‑breaking title will be published under Hamster’s Arcade Archives and Arcade Archives 2 labels for PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Switch 2 and Xbox Series X|S, offering players another chance to experience the influential paddle‑and‑ball action on current hardware.
Release details and pricing
Hamster’s Arcade Archives edition of Arkanoid for PS4 and Nintendo Switch is listed at $7.99, while the Arcade Archives 2 release is priced at $9.99.
Both versions are scheduled to release on May 7, 2026, aligning with Hamster’s ongoing program to reissue arcade and console classics on contemporary platforms.
Gameplay, designers and legacy
Designed by Akira Fujita and Hiroshi “ONIJUST” Tsujino, Arkanoid evolved the gameplay formula first seen in Atari’s 1976 Breakout by introducing a narrative framing, a named player craft and an expanded power‑up system.
The title’s aesthetic — a colorful, futuristic style often compared to the visual tone of the 1982 film Tron — helped Arkanoid stand apart in arcades and home ports.
Put simply: Arkanoid puts players in control of the VAUS spacecraft, using bounced energy balls to shatter so‑called “space walls,” collect power‑ups and navigate a warped labyrinth to return to the mothership.
Power‑ups in the original arcade release include laser weapons, ball‑splitting capsules, ball‑slowing effects and a catcher that allows the paddle to hold the ball momentarily.
Ports and sequels
Following its arcade debut, Arkanoid was widely ported to home systems, including the NES and a range of home computers such as the Amstrad CPC, Commodore Amiga, ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64 and Atari ST.
The series continued with sequels beginning with 1987’s Arkanoid: Revenge of Doh, cementing the franchise’s place in retro gaming history.
Companion reissue: MagMax
Hamster will also reissue Nichibutsu’s MagMax on the same day as part of its Console Archives line for PS5 and Nintendo Switch 2.
MagMax originally launched in arcades in 1985 and appeared on the Famicom/NES in 1986; Hamster previously released the arcade version on PS4 in 2015 and on Nintendo Switch in 2020.
These reissues give contemporary players and preservationists straightforward access to arcade and early console history across current platforms, continuing Hamster’s efforts to keep classic titles available on the Nintendo eShop and console storefronts.
The classic brick‑breaking title will be published under Hamster’s Arcade Archives and Arcade Archives 2 labels for PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Switch 2 and Xbox Series X|S, offering players another chance to experience the influential paddle‑and‑ball action on current hardware.
Release details and pricing
Hamster’s Arcade Archives edition of Arkanoid for PS4 and Nintendo Switch is listed at $7.99, while the Arcade Archives 2 release is priced at $9.99.
Both versions are scheduled to release on May 7, 2026, aligning with Hamster’s ongoing program to reissue arcade and console classics on contemporary platforms.
Gameplay, designers and legacy
Designed by Akira Fujita and Hiroshi “ONIJUST” Tsujino, Arkanoid evolved the gameplay formula first seen in Atari’s 1976 Breakout by introducing a narrative framing, a named player craft and an expanded power‑up system.
The title’s aesthetic — a colorful, futuristic style often compared to the visual tone of the 1982 film Tron — helped Arkanoid stand apart in arcades and home ports.
Put simply: Arkanoid puts players in control of the VAUS spacecraft, using bounced energy balls to shatter so‑called “space walls,” collect power‑ups and navigate a warped labyrinth to return to the mothership.
Power‑ups in the original arcade release include laser weapons, ball‑splitting capsules, ball‑slowing effects and a catcher that allows the paddle to hold the ball momentarily.
Ports and sequels
Following its arcade debut, Arkanoid was widely ported to home systems, including the NES and a range of home computers such as the Amstrad CPC, Commodore Amiga, ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64 and Atari ST.
The series continued with sequels beginning with 1987’s Arkanoid: Revenge of Doh, cementing the franchise’s place in retro gaming history.
Companion reissue: MagMax
Hamster will also reissue Nichibutsu’s MagMax on the same day as part of its Console Archives line for PS5 and Nintendo Switch 2.
MagMax originally launched in arcades in 1985 and appeared on the Famicom/NES in 1986; Hamster previously released the arcade version on PS4 in 2015 and on Nintendo Switch in 2020.
These reissues give contemporary players and preservationists straightforward access to arcade and early console history across current platforms, continuing Hamster’s efforts to keep classic titles available on the Nintendo eShop and console storefronts.