×
  • remind me tomorrow
  • remind me next week
  • never remind me
Subscribe to the ANN Newsletter • Wake up every Sunday to a curated list of ANN's most interesting posts of the week. read more

Join the ININvasion on Xbox: This is Only The Beginning

ININ brings part of its portfolio to Xbox, starting with six gaming classics releasing on December 7th!

Enjoy the ININvasion trailer

Berlin, December 4th, 2023 - Today ININ announced the beginning of a proper Xbox invasion, starting with the release announcement of six of its titles to the Microsoft console and more planned for early next year. Pocky & Rocky: Reshrined, Panorama Cotton, Cotton 100%, Clockwork Aquario, ULTRACORE and Irem Collection 1 will be released on the 7th of December digitally on Xbox, like an early Christmas gift.

Pocky & Rocky: Reshrined
Trailer

The adventures of Pocky & Rocky continue in this high-paced sequel of the legendary series from NatsumeAtari and Tengo Project. Released in 2022, this iconic shoot'em up is ready to join the Xbox family on December 7, 2023. Play as Pocky, Rocky, or one of the three new characters and face the rage of the monsters of the mountains in the newest installment of the series!

Irem Collection Vol. 1
Trailer

The Irem Legacy is finally joining Xbox with a five-volume collection! It's time to get initiated on some of the toughest SHMUPs in gaming history! Having developed several notable arcade games that left a deep impact on the gaming industry in the 1980s and early 1990s, the Irem Collection Vol. 1 gives a peek into the glory days of Irem Corporation. ININ will bring back the most iconic Irem games with its Irem Collection. The first volume includes the legendary and partially most difficult SHMUPs Image Fight 1, Image Fight 2, and X-Multiply.Fight aliens, reclaim humanity, and test your skills on Xbox on December 7, 2023!

Next to Pocky & Rocky Reshrined and Irem Collection Volume 1, ININ brings 4 more retro games - called ININ Gems - to Xbox, all of them being released on Dec 7 and priced at 9.99. Keep reading to discover those 4 gems:

Clockwork Aquario
Trailer

The long-thought-lost arcade treasure and Guinness World Records holder for the longest game development time ever measured, Clockwork Aquario, is now ready to be released on Xbox on December 7, 2023! This gem shines brightly after 30 years of development through a collaboration between ININ, SLG, and the legendary Westone team. Choose your favorite character and conquer various enemies and unique bosses with Huck Londo, Elle Moon, or the giant robot Gush – alone or together with your favorite Player 2 in co-op mode! Jump and run through a colorful pixelated fantasy world, pick up and throw your enemies, hit multiple simultaneously to get a multiplier, and rack up your high score!

ULTRACORE
Trailer

Also joining the Xbox family is the authentic Run 'n Gun 16-bit game– Ultracore. A true love letter to classic 2D action games with intricate level design, tons of secrets to discover, and numerous mid- and end-bosses. Originally developed by DICE for Genesis and Amiga in the 90s, Ultracore was canceled by Psygnosis in 1994 shortly before its release. Discovered and revitalized by Strictly Limited Games and ININ in 2019, Ultracore is finally ready to be released on Xbox on December 7, 2023.

Cotton 100%
Trailer

As the second installment of the Cotton series, Cotton 100% is an action-packed, wacky horizontal side-scrolling adventure! The story begins when the evil villain, Wool, steals the precious Seven Willows and the world falls into complete darkness. The Fairy Queen Velvet sends out her fairy follower, Silk, and the Willow-obsessed Witch, Cotton, to retrieve the Willows. Play as Cotton and Silk in this bright and colorful 90s throwback—fly through the 5 enchanting stages on your broomstick and destroy the monsters with your magic powers! Cotton 100% is ready to be released for Xbox on December 7, 2023.

Panorama Cotton
Trailer

An iconic title in an iconic series, Panorama Cotton raised the bar for what's possible on the Mega Drive/Genesis consoles! Originally released in 1994, this title is the third installment of the Cotton Cute 'em up franchise and is the anticipated sequel to Cotton 100%. Play as Nata de Cotton, a chaotic witch with an unquenchable craving for a magical candy called Willow, and her trusty fairy companion, Silk. As the world is threatened by evil forces once again, it's up to Cotton and Silk to save it… or rather… save the Willow! Defeat evil minions in this third-person shooter and grab Panorama Cotton on Xbox on December 7, 2023!

The ININvasion Has Begun!
Stay tuned for more titles invading Xbox early next year!

About ININ
ININ, a subsidiary of United Games Entertainment GmbH, is a rising publishing label for high-quality retro, arcade, and indie games. With a passion for feel-good games, ININ brings classic titles back to life and creates future gaming gems. Known for titles like "Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World," "Cotton Reboot," and "CrossCode," ININ is the Western publishing partner for iconic TAITO series such as "Bubble Bobble" and the legendary “Space Invaders.” In collaboration with partner label Strictly Limited Games, ININ offers limited and collector's editions to die-hard gamers. As ININ continues to impact the gaming world, stay tuned for frequent announcements of new (or old but returning) games. Visit www.iningames.com for more information.

About NatsumeAtari Inc.
NatsumeAtari Inc. is a veteran Japanese game development company established in 1987. NatsumeAtari is the original developer of the Pocky & Rocky series, and is responsible for the newest game too. Pocky & Rocky is a series in the original "Kiki Kaikai" franchise licensed by TAITO. For more information about NatsumeAtari Inc., please visit www.natsumeatari.co.jp/english/

Natsume Inc. is a worldwide developer and publisher that specialize in unique and family-oriented interactive entertainment software for a variety of platforms. Most known for publishing Reel Fishing and Harvest Moon, Natsume is dedicated to producing quality video games. For more information about Natsume Inc. visit www.natsume.com.

About Tōzai Games
From the classics of yesterday to the original IP of tomorrow, Tōzai Games delivers lasting gaming experiences to passionate gamers around the globe. Based in Bellevue, Washington, and Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan, Tōzai Games is an experienced team of professionals dedicated to building successful licensing and publishing relationships around the world. Nintendo Entertainment System, NES, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, SNES, Game Boy, Nintendo Switch™, and The Nintendo Switch logo are registered trademarks of Nintendo. "PS" Family logo "PlayStation," "PS4" and “PS5” are registered trademarks of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. Xbox, Xbox One and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies and are used under license from Microsoft.

About TAITO Corporation
TAITO Corporation (TAITO) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd. With headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, TAITO operates core businesses such as game arcade operations, manufacturing coin-operated game machines, and mobile phone content services. A seminal part of gaming history, TAITO caused a worldwide sensation with its arcade legend, SPACE INVADERS, and developed such fan favorites as PUZZLE BOBBLE (BUST-A-MOVE) and ARKANOID. Today, TAITO continues to thrill game lovers of all generations by offering both classic and new family-oriented titles on the latest gaming platforms. TAITO delivers a wide range of entertainment experiences with the goal of providing consumers with fresh surprises and new discoveries.
More information on TAITO can be found on the Internet at https://www.Taito.co.jp/en.

About Success Corporation
Success Corporation is a Japanese game developer and publisher with over 45 years of history. Currently, the company focuses on developing games for smartphones, PCs, arcades, and home video game consoles. We also have a wealth of development experience and specialize in multi-platform development.

About Westone Bit Entertainment
With Wonder Boy, Westone created one of the most popular video game series of all time. It became synonymous with SEGA, until SEGA created their own mascot character with the famous Sonic the Hedgehog in the early 1990s. Some of their best-known titles include Wonder Boy (1986), Wonder Boy in Monsterland (1987) or Wonder Boy III - The Dragon's Trap (1989).

Pocky & Rocky Reshrined
© TAITO CORPORATION 1986 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
©2022-2023 NatsumeAtari Inc./Natsume Inc.

Panorama Cotton
©1994 SUNSOFT ©1994 SUCCESS PUBLISHED BY ININ.

Cotton 100%
©1994 DATAM POLYSTAR / SUCCESS PUBLISHED BY ININ.

Clockwork Aquario
© 2021 United Games Entertainment GmbH/LAT. Original Game © SEGA/LAT. All rights reserved

Ultracore
©ININ 2018, 2021, 2023 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Irem Collection Volume 1
©1988, 2023 IREM SOFTWARE ENGINEERING INC.

bookmark/share with: short url

Press Release homepage / archives