Get in Formation! Celebrated Japanese Shooter FZ: Formation Z Arrives in Europe on PC and Console This Summer!
- Poppy Byron
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
Mecha’ Date for FZ: Formation Z, Hitting Europe from June 9, 2026!
Karlstad, Sweden – February 10, 2026 – Clear River Games, a video game publisher specialising in classic and retro games, in partnership with developers City Connection, today announced that the celebrated Japanese shooter FZ: Formation Z arrives in Europe on PC (Steam®, Epic Game Store), PlayStation®5, Nintendo® Switch™ 2 and Xbox Series X|S, starting June 9, 2026!
A signature title from Japanese developer Jeleco®, FZ: Formation Z originally found fame in the arcades of the 1980s, notable for its innovative gameplay mechanic which saw gamers take control of a transforming mech named Ixpel, capable of transforming between robot and jet fighter at will.
Now reborn for the modern era, FZ: Formation Z returns featuring fully updated graphics and an all-new soundtrack by Daisuke Matsumoto. Staying true to the classic gameplay and intuitive controls made famous by the original, gamers once again must go it alone, defeating a savage onslaught of enemies and switching between forms, in this incredible new vision of a classic, featuring a host of brand-new weaponry, dazzling graphical effects and dynamic actions.
Here’s what awaits gamers daring enough to strap into a single-person metal armada!
Unique Transforming Gameplay: Rule the Land and conquer the Air! - The astonishing Ixpel can transform in real-time between robot form (ideal for land) and jet fighter (conquering the air) for as long as gamers’ energy holds out. Dominate the ground with melee attacks and precision shots or transform into flight form to rip through the battlefield at overwhelming speeds! Traverse five vast adrenaline-packed missions freely and carve out your own path to victory.
Customize Performance in The Factory - Gamers can use FZ Points earned in missions to unlock new Ixpel and cosmetic items. Enhance firepower by equipping modules into four available slots, all designed to overpower your enemies. Players decide for themselves if they will choose to build a balanced Ixpel with well-rounded offence, or focus on enhancing a single trait, building up its abilities to their absolute limit, it’s all up to each individual gamer to design a personalised attack strategy unique to their preference. With part swaps, a choice of colours, and personalised stickers, gamers can build an Ixpel as unique as they are!
Challenge Your Limits in Score Attack - Complete a mission and Score Attack Mode is unlocked. Here, gamers can challenge individual missions in a quest to beat their personal best, with high scores recorded for each area. Use your fully customized Ixpel to rewrite the record books.
Extensive Archives - Record your epic quest and path through battle, to relive the epic action at a future date!
War Record - Tracks total enemies defeated, missions flown and more.
Enemy Data - A detailed encyclopaedia of all foe gamers’ take downs can be found here for future research!
Gallery - Unlock stunning artwork by completing specific in-game challenges. As you fight, your legacy grows. Keep battling to complete your records of the fight!
FZ: Formation Z will be released physically on June 9, 2026 on PlayStation 5 for an MSRP of $39.99/€34.99 and on Nintendo Switch 2 for an MSRP of $49.99/€44.99.
FZ: Formation Z will also be available digitally on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam and Epic Game Store on June 9, 2026 for an MSRP of $29.99/€24.99.
Press Contact:
Overload PR on behalf of Clear River Games
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About City Connection
City Connection was founded in 2005 and owns the IP of long-established game maker ‘Jaleco’. The name ‘City Connection’ is reference to a previously released game by Jaleco, much loved by the City Connection president. City Connection is a game developer and publisher, as well as a soundtrack business (Clarice Disc), licensing business, publishing/editing/writing business, and engages in all manner of activities relating to video games. City Connection specializes in increasing the value of much-loved IP, utilizing some of the industry’s most experienced talent and reinventing games for a modern audience. City Connection strive to deliver quality games which delight gamers and respect original IP.
©CITY CONNECTION CO., LTD.
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 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).
