Highly anticipated: Developer showcases over the last few weeks have filled release calendars for 2024 and 2025 with reissues of numerous classic games, some of which are available now. The growing list includes titles that have never been available on PC, haven't been available for purchase in around two decades, or have never been playable in English.
Recent showcases aiming to boost support for the Nintendo Switch have ironically confirmed PC conversions of many well-regarded retro games. Most are bundled into collections that include several titles apiece.
Capcom is arguably the primary contributor to this wave. The company has announced ports of over a dozen fighting games and other titles since the start of this summer.
The latest surprise is Capcom Fighting Collection 2, which includes both Capcom vs. SNK games, both Power Stone titles, and other beat 'em ups that have been difficult to acquire over the last two decades and have never been available on PC. The collection launches next year on Steam and modern consoles.
However, a package that brings most of Capcom's Marvel crossover games to Steam is much closer to launch. The company recently confirmed a September 12 release date for Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics.
Another bundle features two games from the company's Ace Attorney courtroom drama adventure series, the second of which is making its English-language debut. A demo is available now, with a launch set for September 6.
Microsoft plans to release Age of Mythology: Retold, the company's latest RTS remake, during the same week on September 4. However, customers who purchase the premium edition can play it now.
Additionally, the original version of Resident Evil 2 (as opposed to the 2019 remake) is now available on GOG. The re-release makes the survival horror classic officially playable on modern versions of Windows and introduces several improvements. GOG previously released the original Resident Evil and plans to follow it up with Resident Evil 3.
Konami also released a retro shadow drop this week with a bundle of three Castlevania games previously only available on the Nintendo DS. Now, nearly every major title in the 37-year-old series is available on Steam. Furthermore, the company plans to introduce remastered versions of the first two Suikoden RPGs on March 6.
Meanwhile, Digital Eclipse announced Tetris Forever, a collection of over 15 Tetris entries designed to celebrate the iconic puzzle game's 40th anniversary. Tetris Forever continues the format of Digital Eclipse's prior documentary games – Atari 50 and The Making of Karateka – by including extensive archival footage and developer commentary. The bundle comes to Steam and GOG later this year.
Pre-orders are also now open for the upcoming remake of Dragon Quest III, which launches on November 14. Square Enix plans to release remakes of the first two entries in the genre-defining RPG series next year.