Publisher Clear River Games and developer Tatsujin revealed a new co-op mode for Truxton Extreme, their brand new entry in the classic shmup franchise.

Here’s a rundown on the new details, plus a trailer:

On the sofa, no-one can hear you scream, but Truxton Extreme champions a whole new co-op mode which will allow players to team up with fellow space fighters to defend Earth from the horrific nightmare fuel that befalls them – and means there will always be someone to listen to your blood-curdling cries of defeat. Players can revive one another if the challenge becomes too much and they pull them back from the brink of destruction. Using the mighty Thunder Laser, they can also redirect each other’s weapons in evil’s direction using the metal hull of their attack ship, now that’s teamwork! The thrashing metal tentacles, slithering mechanical serpents, insectoid features and plethora of deadly spikes of the hostile Geranium invasion will have no chance against your team of cosmic defenders as you lead them through a carnival of arcade horde-shattering action.  

The original Truxton, a groundbreaking shoot-em-up in its time, was lovingly crafted by Tatsujin CEO Masahiro Yuge back in 1988 with the goal of creating a scrolling shooter where muscle memory was a key feature – and you’ll certainly put those reflexes to the test with this new iteration of the franchise. Fans of the long-running shooter series will be delighted to discover that Truxton Extreme has been developed with the same vision in mind, and leans heavily into the shmup DNA that made Truxton such a memorable hit in gaming’s golden era. The brand-new game features modern 3D visuals and the non-stop shooting intensity expected from Truxton titles, all the while preserving the series’ iconic design, adding multiple modes, including an episodic digital comic-book telling the story of the three protagonists. The soundtrack created by Masahiro Yuge features remastered Truxton tracks and brand-new pieces created exclusively for this title. In it, Yuge uses his skills as a classically trained pianist to bring an extra level of musical magic to the game.

Features:

• 18 chapters of arcade action, accompanied by an animated comic-book story from manga artist and character designer, Junya Inoue
• 8 unique stages
• Multiple devastating weapons, including fan favourites from the original games
• New original soundtrack and reimagined classic tracks 
• Team mode, join forces with fellow space fighters to defend Earth from the evil attackers
• Multiple game modes, including Heart Starter mode for less experienced players

Truxton Extreme is in development for Windows PC (via Steam) and PS5 with a release set for later in 2025.