Namco Cult Classic Armadillo Racing Finally Heads to Modern Consoles After 30 Years
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Bandai Namco's 1997 arcade game Armadillo Racing is receiving its first-ever home console release courtesy of Hamster Corporation's Arcade Archives series, complete with modern controller support and optional USB trackball compatibility.
Arcade preservation continues to score major wins for gaming history enthusiasts. Developer Hamster Corporation has announced that Bandai Namco's 1997 arcade oddity Armadillo Racing is finally making its home console debut nearly three decades after its initial release. Originally powered by Namco hardware that also brought us classics like Ridge Racer and the original Tekken, this unique title tasks players with rolling armadillos through obstacle courses and speed tracks.
Bringing an arcade game born in the late nineties to modern living rooms comes with unique control hurdles. The original cabinet relied entirely on a trackball to capture the frantic rolling mechanics. Fortunately, Hamster Corporation is supporting standard controllers for this new release while also adding USB trackball compatibility for players who want to experience the authentic arcade setup at home. Ryoichi Kaku from the Bandai Namco Research Institute, who worked on the original development team, noted how meaningful it is to finally see the project return for a new generation of players.
For those looking to dive into this piece of gaming history, the title launches as part of the ongoing Arcade Archives initiative. According to reporting by Polygon, the game arrives on July 23 across multiple generations of hardware. Players on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 can pick up the standard Arcade Archives version for $14.99, while an Arcade Archives 2 release hits PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2 for $16.99. Owners of the original version will also have a discounted upgrade path available for $2.99, making it easy to bring this piece of arcade history forward.
Tags: Gaming News, Arcade Archives, Bandai Namco, Retro Gaming, Console Releases
Original article: Polygon