Remember when Xenon 2 released? The Bitmap Brothers were all the rage, Speedball 2 to The Chaos Engine, these guys were delivering solid gaming action. I played their titles on the Commodore Amiga and also on the Atari ST. So as someone that played both Xenon 1 and 2, I’m excited for this release and it looks like part 3 will like the original game, let you transform between a Tank and a ship. This feature was not in Xenon 2. Commodore over on their website mention that they have acquired the license. They mention it’ll initially launch on Starcade, before releasing on more modern platforms (Switch. PS, PC). Below is taken from their site and translated using Google.
“We are incredibly proud to announce the start of development on XENON 3: Hyperblast, the new official installment in one of the sagas that made the history of arcade shoot-em-ups of the 1980s. We have obtained the license to bring XENON back to life, a masterpiece created in 1988 by The Bitmap Brothers. For those like me who grew up with joysticks and CRTs, it’s a unique thrill to be able to work on such an iconic title. 🛸 Our Xenon 3 will be both a tribute and an evolution. An explosive roguelite, with top-down gameplay and real-time transformations between spaceship and tank modes, just like the original game. Every element is designed to recreate that sensation: the arcade feel, the fast pace, the desire for “one more game.” 🚀 Obsessive attention to gameplay, design inspired by masterpieces like Sky Force Reloaded, Battle Garegga, Cygni, RayStorm… and boss fights you won’t easily forget. 🕹️ It will initially be released exclusively on Starcade, before arriving on Steam, PlayStation, and Nintendo. đź’Ą We’re giving it our all, with absolute respect for the original title and all the passion we put into every project. Let the Hyperblast begin!“