Publisher PQube and developer Fiction Factory Games announced the Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers release date is set for May 2022.

While the Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers release date is set for May 27th, the visual novel focused on love and pixels will be available across Windows PC (via Steam), Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5. A physical version will be sold for Switch, PS4, and PS5 as well.

Here’s a new trailer:

Here’s a rundown on the game:

In the distant future year 20XX, an alternate timeline where arcades never went away… you’re an aspiring gamer searching for esports glory on the Fist of Discomfort 2 Pro Tour. Seeking a partner to play with, you join a team of players who hang out at Good Clean Fun, a combination pizzeria / laundromat / arcade. It’s up to you to rally the team, learning more about who they are and how best to support their dreams along the way. Defeat rivals, conquer tournaments, build relationships, and uncover a strange arcade conspiracy as your team walks the road to victory!

With these features you know and love from Arcade Spirits:

• Six new characters to befriend and romance, as well as a few return appearances by series favorites.
• Character art by Molly Nemecek and pulsating synthwave tunes by Greg Mirles!
• Measure your personality using Iris, your handy virtual assistant. You can be Kindly, Steady, Quirky, Gutsy, or Flexibly!
• Date anyone you like regardless of your pronouns, or focus entirely on building friendships.

And NEW features to the series:

• Import your decisions from Arcade Spirits, and reshape the world of 20XX based on the choices you’ve made! If you haven’t played the original game, that’s fine – this works just as well as a standalone experience and will adapt itself to be a great fresh start.
• A massively expanded character creator – choose body type, hairstyles, accessories, clothing, and more. Your custom character now appears on screen during the whole game!
• Design your own rival! Using the full power of the character creator, craft the one who will stand in your way. Or will perhaps love bloom between these two enemies…?
• Take on the world in Fist of Discomfort 2, a strategy minigame. Your victory or defeat changes the path of your story without ending it! (Minigame is skippable.)
• Rebalanced personality choices, with more variety and more opportunities to talk to every character.