Arcade Archives Scion: 1984 Seibu Kaihatsu Classic Lands on Nintendo Switch, PS4, and More

This week marks the arrival of 'Scion'—the classic 1984 arcade shoot 'em up from Seibu Denshi (later known as Seibu Kaihatsu)—on multiple modern platforms, as Hamster Corporation expands its popular Arcade Archives series.

Renowned for their influential shooters, including 'Dynamite Duke' and 'Raiden', Seibu Kaihatsu’s early catalog features foundational titles that set the stage for the evolution of the arcade genre.

‘Scion’ debuted in Japanese arcades in 1984, offering a vertical scrolling shoot 'em up experience set within the expansive, futuristic metropolis of Crystal Heaven.

The game tasks players with a daring mission to rescue their captured companions from deep within the city’s core, fighting through progressively challenging layers to reach the enemy’s central fortress.

As Seibu Denshi’s second venture into arcade shooters—following 1983’s 'Stinger', which is already available on Arcade Archives for both PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch—‘Scion’ showcases the developer’s signature action-packed style and early design innovations. According to Hamster’s official announcement, 'Scion' will be available on October 30th across a range of platforms including Nintendo Switch, the newly launched Switch 2, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.

The title sees a variable pricing structure: the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 versions are priced at $7.99 USD, while the Switch 2, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S editions retail for $9.99 USD.

To accommodate players moving to updated hardware, Hamster is offering a cross-generation upgrade option—owners of the game on Switch or PS4 can upgrade to the Arcade Archives 2 version on Switch 2 or PS5 for a fee of $2.99 USD. In a recent press statement, Hamster highlighted their commitment to preserving arcade history: “Our continued partnership brings timeless classics like ‘Scion’ to today’s gaming community—making these pioneering titles accessible for both longtime fans and new players.” The Arcade Archives collection, well regarded for its faithful emulation and accessibility, continues to bolster the Switch eShop, PlayStation Store, and digital marketplaces across major platforms.

'Scion’s' arrival not only celebrates Seibu Kaihatsu's early contributions to the shoot 'em up genre but also reaffirms Hamster’s role as a steward of arcade heritage in the digital age. Players and collectors eager to revisit or discover ‘Scion’ can now find it on the Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S starting October 30th, further enriching the diverse selection of retro games available through Arcade Archives.

Nintendo Switch 2 Nintendo Switch Nintendo Switch 2 PS5 Xbox Series X Xbox Switch Arcade Archives Xbox Series X|S PS4 arcade Xbox Series X S Arcade Xbox X|S Scion Seibu Kaihatsu Seibu Denshi Hamster