Earthion, the highly anticipated Genesis/Mega Drive shoot ’em up (shmup) developed by legendary composer and game developer Yuzo Koshiro, has been officially delayed until 2025. Originally slated for a late 2024 release, Koshiro confirmed the delay via social media, explaining that while development is progressing well, the project is taking longer than expected to complete. He assured fans that the game is in its final stages, but more time is needed to ensure a polished product.

The development of Earthion is on track, and it looks like the project has entered the home stretch, heading into the stadium, though it's taking a bit longer than planned. Stay tuned for the final reveal coming next year! https://t.co/M3ohvlDSRu

— 古代祐三 Yuzo Koshiro (@yuzokoshiro) November 19, 2024

Earthion has generated significant excitement within the retro gaming community since its announcement in 2023, particularly due to Koshiro’s involvement. Known for his iconic work on games like Streets of Rage 2 and The Story of Thor, Koshiro has also been a long-time fan of shmups, making Earthion a highly anticipated title.

The game will feature new 3D effects, original music composed using the MAmidiMEmo music creation application, and will be released on both modern consoles (including Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S) and as a physical cartridge for the Genesis/Mega Drive. Limited Run Games will handle the physical distribution.

Despite the delay, fans will get a chance to experience Earthion firsthand at the upcoming Retro Game Summit on November 30, 2024, where it will be playable. Koshiro has promised more updates and a final reveal in 2025 as the game nears completion.