Beasts of the Sea, Soaring Through The Skies! Toaplan Arcade Garage: Flying Fire Shark Blasts Onto PlayStation®4 and Nintendo® Switch™ This August
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Six Classic Toaplan Shmups Complete With Bonus Content Arrive Worldwide On 29th August, 2026
Karlstad, Sweden – May 11, 2026 – Clear River Games, a video game publisher specialising in classic and retro games, announced today that Toaplan Arcade Garage: Flying Fire Shark, a collection of retro shoot-em-up sensations, will be available globally on 29th August 2026 for for PlayStation®4 and Nintendo® Switch™.
Together at last! The Shark series by legendary Japanese game studio, Toaplan, is a prominent feature in the shoot ‘em up genre. Its first entry, Flying Shark, praised for its expertly tuned difficulty level and simple rules, went on to influence future vertical scrolling shmup titles. The sequel, Fire Shark, was renowned for setting arcades ablaze with the utter devastation of its screen-filling weapons.
Those looking for an authentic arcade experience on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 need look no further as Arcade Mode does exactly that. But newcomers to these titles, or even the shmup genre, will find grace in the Super Easy Mode featured in both Flying Shark and Fire Shark.
Included in the titles are a whole host of features to assist burgeoning captains and to help them survive the seemingly never ending onslaught of enemies. The M2 Gadgets shown on both sides of the playing field have been designed to take the sting out of blind spots and give an early warning to watch out for new items and hidden features. Arcade Challenge Mode splits each area into bite-sized chunks so players can perfect every section of the game, and there’s even a rewind feature that is automatically activated when your ship is hit in Challenge Mode. A one-credit clear awaits you!
Games included in the Toaplan Arcade Garage: Flying Fire Shark compilation:
Flying Shark (Worldwide arcade version)
Sky Shark (US arcade version)
Hisho Same (JP arcade version)
Fire Shark (Worldwide arcade version)
Same! Same! Same! (JP arcade version)
Same! Same! Same! (JP arcade 2-player version)
In addition to the six titles that make the Toaplan Arcade Garage: Flying Fire Shark, retro enthusiasts will delight in the DLC content available for digital owners of the collection, which comes as part of the physical release. Not only will gamers be able to play the arcade versions of Flying Shark and Fire Shark on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4, they will also be able to relive the days of it being on the NES, SEGA Mega Drive and SEGA Genesis too.
But the DLC content doesn’t stop there! Alongside the console versions of these classic titles, the DLC includes another game, Wardner. Originally released in 1987, Wardner is an arcade action platformer in which players use fire magic to defeat enemies as they venture through an insidious forest to ultimately challenge the evil boss Wardner and rescue the young girl imprisoned by her transformation into a crystal ball.
Games included in the Toaplan Arcade Garage: Flying Fire Shark - Wardner DLC:
Sky Shark (NES version 1989)
Same! Same! Same! (JP SEGA Mega Drive version 1990)
Fire Shark (SEGA Genesis version 1990)
Wardner (Worldwide arcade version 1987)
Wardner no Mori (JP arcade version 1987)
Pyros (US arcade version 1987)
Wardner no Mori (FDS version 1988 - JP language only)
As a special bonus, Toaplan’s arcade puzzle hit, Teki-Paki, originally released in 1991, will be included as a free download for anyone who has purchased any of the TOAPLAN ARCADE GARAGE games. This seemingly simple match-five title hides some exceptionally tricky gameplay, set to a gritty industrial techno soundtrack that will inspire you to scale the online leaderboards with every bold move. Not quite at the top of your game yet? Worry not, because you can download and watch the elite gameplay sessions of some of the most elite players on the scoreboard, remembering and mastering their every move.
Toaplan Arcade Garage: Flying Fire Shark will launch on PlayStation®4 and Nintendo® Switch™ with both digital and physical editions on 29th August 2026.
Press Contact:
Overload PR on behalf of Clear River Games
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About Clear River Games
Clear River Games is a publisher with love for classic retro games. We are a small team in Karlstad, Sweden, founded by the Freemode Group (part of Embracer Group). Our vision is to bring the joy of experiencing vintage retro games and revived classic game franchises to players all over the world. We focus on publishing high-quality classic game franchises, modern retro and pixel art games and indie games that inspire gamers and bring back great memories of the past or discover new great games. With physical editions distributed online and in retail stores, we want to make great and unique games accessible to retro game fans around the world.
About M2 Co., Ltd.
Founded in 1991, M2 is a Japanese game development company engaged in developing console software and providing game development libraries. The company is held in high regard by both players and IP holders for its high-quality reproductions of retro game titles. “M2ShotTriggers” is a publishing label/brand operated by M2.
Supporting their slogan “From Revival to Creation,” are two main pillars:
1. Revival titles with added value that maximize the original game's appeal.
2. New entries to beloved series, which further enhance the value of the IP
About Embracer Freemode
Embracer Freemode (“Freemode”) is Embracer Group`s 11th Operating Group. Freemode is a global ecosystem of independently run companies led by passionate creators, entrepreneurs, and business leaders with decades of combined experience in gaming and entertainment. Freemode supports its businesses with strategic, operational, and financial support, helping its businesses accelerate growth with a long-term mindset.
Freemode is part of the Embracer Group AB family of companies, which is publicly listed on Nasdaq Stockholm under the ticker EMBRAC B. (EMBRAC B).
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