Arcade Archives 2 is Hamster Corporation's line of arcade reissues for Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. The most recent release is Arcade Archives 2 Crazy Balloon, announced for October 1 at 1,100 yen (330 yen for owners of the earlier Switch or PS4 version).
Hamster Corporation is running two tiers of arcade reissues side by side. Arcade Archives The Hustler came to Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 on June 11, while Arcade Archives 2 The Hustler arrived the same day for Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. The split shows up again with Crazy Balloon: the Arcade Archives 2 edition heads to Nintendo Switch 2, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows PC on October 1 with Xbox Play Anywhere support.
Price separates the tiers. Standard releases carry a lower price (838 yen on Switch and 837 yen on PS4 for The Hustler), while the Arcade Archives 2 versions cost 1,100 yen. Owners of a Switch or PS4 copy can buy the matching Switch 2 or PS5 version for 330 yen on the same account, which turns the line into a discounted upgrade path across generations rather than a separate purchase.
Features also diverge. Both tiers include online rankings, rewind, rapid fire, and multiple save slots. The Arcade Archives 2 versions add more: The Hustler packs a Time Attack Mode for clearing the game quickly and VRR support for behavior closer to the original arcade hardware, while Crazy Balloon carries rewind, save slots, and online ranking. The Hustler's 3D screen for checking cue ball and object ball positions and its nine-ball and rotation rules appear in the June release, and Hamster streamed a "The Hustler Special" episode of its Arcade Archiver program on YouTube that day.
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Oct 5
Taito's 1980 action game Crazy Balloon is coming back on October 1 as Arcade Archives 2 Crazy Balloon, Hamster Corporation announced. It will be available for Nintendo Switch 2, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows PC with Xbox Play Anywhere support. Owners of the existing Arcade Archives Crazy Balloon on Nintendo Switch or PS4 can use the same account to buy the new version on Nintendo Switch 2 or PS5 for 330 yen; the regular price is 1,100 yen.
Jun 10
Hamster Corporation will release Konami's 1987 billiard game "The Hustler" across multiple platforms on June 11. The game will be available as "Arcade Archives The Hustler" for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4, priced at 838 yen and 837 yen respectively. A separate version, "Arcade Archives 2 The Hustler," launches the same day for Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, priced at 1,100 yen. Owners of the Switch or PS4 version can buy the Switch 2 or PS5 version at a discount of 330 yen each. The game supports one or two players and includes rules for nine-ball and rotation billiards. A 3D screen lets players check cue ball and object ball positions. The Arcade Archives 2 version adds a Time Attack Mode, where players compete to clear the game quickly, and supports VRR for behavior closer to the original arcade hardware. Both versions include online rankings, rewind, rapid fire, and multiple save slots. Hamster will stream a "The Hustler Special" episode of its official program "Arcade Archiver" on YouTube on June 11.